About Melissa Messer

Bio
Melissa Messer b. 1984 Houston, based in Seattle.

Melissa is a color-forward figure painter who describes her work as “if Rothko’s daughter were obsessed with form.” Melissa uses her background in classical painting and contemporary design to grapple with themes of intimacy and memory. She establishes visual weight and atmosphere by pairing sculptural form with finely tuned color relationships. Summer 2025 she will exhibit in Seattle at Spectrum Fine art and at Upstate Art Weekend in New York. Currently she is working on a solo show at Spectrum Fine Art in Seattle slated for May 2026.

Exhibitions

Current & Future

July 2025 - Close Ties solo exhibition for Upstate Art Weekend at Weird Specialty, Tivoli, NY

Jun 2025 - Cherry Picked, group show at Spectrum Fine Art, Seattle

Recent

Oct 2024 - Form over Function, group show at Seattle Art Source, Seattle

July 2024 - Seattle Art Fair represented by Spectrum Fine Art, Seattle

Feb 2024 - Merry Go Round of Pleasure & Understanding, duo show with Ian Kurtis Crist at Koplin Del Rio, Seattle

CV available upon request.

Email below

A beautiful opening night thanks to local hero Sarah Hurt and team at @seattleartsource. Sarah and I first bonded over our fascination with “that moment” when art connects. Her job is to facilitate and nurture that connection. It’s
🚨 FORM OVER FUNCTION group show opening Saturday, October 12: at @seattleartsource in Georgetown. Reception from 4 - 7PM. RSVP in my bio. October is going to thrill. @seattleartsource has curated a stunning group show of figure paintings. I’
@seattleartfair weekend! This is my favorite week of the year in seattle. Thank you @spectrumfineart for including my painting “Receiver” in such a great looking line up. And infinite thank yous to @rootedbirthdoula whose portrait is port