Melissa LIBUTTI

Artist Statement

In my current artistic practice, I immerse myself in the creation of multi-layered canvases enriched with tiers, wire constructs, and a diverse palette of paints, including matte, luminescent, and resin-based mediums. Within these intricate compositions, obscure faces, figures, and scenes reminiscent of ancient times emerge, their forms morphing and altering with shifts in lighting and the viewer's gaze.

My artistic journey is profoundly influenced by ontological inquiries into existence, driven by a fervent passion for the study of spacetime and the tantalizing prospect of other dimensions and cosmic time travel. Questions of life and death linger at the forefront of my creative process, fueling a relentless pursuit of understanding and expression.

Diving deep into the latest scientific theories put forth by physicists, scientists, and astronomers, along with groundbreaking discoveries from instruments like the Hadron Collider and The James Webb Telescope, I am compelled to translate these abstract concepts into visual narratives. Through extensive research and personal insights, I aim to bridge the gap between the enigmatic realms of science and the tangible language of art.

My art implores the viewer to engage in contemplation and ignite their curiosity. I provide a visual pathway to the worlds of the intricate unknown, employing techniques such as interference, textures, plexiglass, wire, and mirrors to give substance and form to these abstruse theories. By intertwining elements of science, philosophy, and art, I aim to evoke a sense of wonder and awe, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of exploration and discovery.

Ultimately, my work serves as a conduit for dialogue and reflection, transcending boundaries and inspiring a deeper appreciation for the intricate interplay between the seen and the unseen, the known and the unknown. Through art, we can unravel the mysteries of existence and embrace the boundless possibilities that lie beyond the confines of our understanding.

Biography

I am a woman. I am a mother. I am an artist. As an artist born in the United States, with one legally blind eye, my perception of what I see is abstract and visionary with a tendency for pareidolia. I am enticed by organic materials and high textures that draw my hand to touch them, like a magnet which, satisfies a need that my vision cannot fulfill. Simplicity and bold simple works of the abstracts ease my eye. I believe my vision issues have had a dramatic impact on ithe ntricate, textured content emerging from my own dynamic work. Creating allows my subconscious to wander and escape to find faces and places of other realities, describing one of my own abstract emotions or ideas that I can't quite put into words and embraces who I am with the objective of linking with others.

I didn't realize I was an artist until my twenties when I began as a professional makeup artist in California. I liked to push the envelope with make up and used my own organic concoctions and pigments to create special effects on faces for fashion and art photography which led me to the world of modern art and gave me the confidence to paint on canvas. The people, music, dance and art of Africa were studied and are very influential even in my work today. Intuitively, I believe another life in the past or other dimension beckons to be expressed through sculptures on canvas using organic and industrial materials. These findings are integral in my practice, such as, porcupine quills, crystals, egg shells, metals, turtle sheddings, mirror, glass and stones, calling the viewer to my own spirit to build a pathway to our humaness and primitive ancestory.

After attending art classes at California State, Long Beach and Fullerton College in California, I continued to show and win awards in Las Vegas, and Colorado soon obtaining a degree in Multimedia. 2004 brought me to Florida where I have now dedicated my life to a successful fine arts career near the Gulf of Mexico. This past year brought the Charitable Art Fund Grant, The Art Ovation Residency for June 2024 and The Praxis Award for Writing. I continue to donate yearly to the www.haloartsproject.com and www.bestbuddies/wisconsin.org, as well, as other community art projects such as sidewalk painting for the Sarasota Art Avenue. These works focus on 3D mixed media paintings speaking out for women's issues, abuse and diversity. Researching scientific and metaphysical theories of cosmic time, alternate dimensions and life after death occupy much of my educational time and manifest in my latest abstract pieces as I strive to - "Shred the Box" -Melissa Libutti

Exhibition History (CV)