Melitta Perry is an Australian artist based in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales.
Melitta’s career began as an architectural illustrator, where she employed traditional drawing skills. She later completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the University of Southern Cross.
She has held over 10 solo exhibitions and contributed to over 20 group exhibitions in NSW, Queensland, Melbourne, and the UK. She has been a finalist in the prestigious Glover Prize, Ravenswood Art Prize, and Calleen Art Award.
Her paintings take inspiration from poetry, literature, and myth, particularly those which contain Australian vernacular.
“Much of my work explores the themes of Sovereignty, Legacy, Memory, and Imagination. I make use of antique furniture and bric-a-brac, old buildings, birds, and native animals to weave narratives into the landscape and to ponder the spaces we, and our colonial legacy occupy within the contemporary framework.”
Solo Exhibitions:
2025 New Works, Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast
2024 Threads & Tales, Manyung Gallery Melbourne
2023 Echoes, Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast Qld
2022 Weaving the Borderlands, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2018 The Quickening, Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast,
2011 Postcards From Offshore, Lorraine Pilgrim @ Retrospect Galleries, Gold Coast Qld
2008 Fable Lands, Art Galleries Schubert, Gold Coast
2007 Back & Beyond, Catherine Asquith Gallery Melbourne
2006 Small Histories, Catherine Asquith Gallery Melbourne
2005 A Week in the Desert & Other Stories, Barebones Art Space Bangalow NSW
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2020 Artist's Choice Anthea Polson, Qld
2019 Artist's Choice Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2018 Little Treasures, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2017 Small Gifts, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2016 Artist's Choice, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2015 Precious Things Come In Small Parcels Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2014 - Miniatures - A Christmas Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2013 - The Colour Red - Christmas Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2012 - The Artist Revealed Christmas Self Portrait Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2010 Directors Choice Catherine Asquith Gallery Melbourne
2009 Country Energy Selected Finalists Lismore Regional Gallery and Chifley Towers Sydney
2008 Country Energy Selected Finalists Dubbo Regional Gallery and The Gunnery Sydney
2007 Festivite Catherine Asquith Gallery Melbourne
2006 Directors Choice Catherine Asquith Gallery Melbourne
2005 Catherine Asquith Gallery Melbourne
2004 Catherine Asquith Gallery Melbourne
2001 New Art Exhibition Albany Gallery Cardiff Wales UK
2001 Welsh Artist of the Year Exhibition St David's Hall Cardiff
Education
2013 BA Visual Arts (Painting) Southern Cross University
2000 Guest Lecturer (in architectural illustration) University of Wales Cardiff (UWIC)
1988 - 1990 Ambler & Haycraft Architectural Rendering - Trained as an architectural illustrator
Awards:
2024 Glover Prize - Finalist
2021 Ravenswood Art Prize - Finalist
2020 Calleen Art Award - Finalist
2019 & 2018 Invited Finalist - Tattersall's Club Landscape Prize, Brisbane
2015 Byron Art Prize - Winner Council Acquisitive Prize
2012 Wilson Art Award – Finalist
2012 Coraki Art Prize - Winner (painting)
2012 Border Art Prize – Finalist (also 2005,2007,2009)
2009 & 2007 Country Energy Award for Landscape - Finalist
2005 Metro 5 Art Prize - Finalist
2005 Portia Geach Memorial Award – Finalist