Artist statement

Melanie Bardolia

Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Melanie is now based in Melbourne

Her interest in art began at an early age and she maintained her love of painting while pursuing her tertiary studies. She is mainly self-taught and the classes and workshops she has attended over the years have had a profound impact on her work.

She is a studio based painter and has a love of painting still life,portraits and figurative work. Initially working in a realistic manner ,her work has evolved into a blend of abstraction and representation. Her aim is to capture the essence of the subject, not merely a literal representation.

Her work has been exhibited in group shows in Australia and was a featured artist in the art lounge at Cambridge Studio Gallery in Melbourne. she has also been a finalist in the National Emerging Art Prize Michael Reid Galleries 2023 , Tacit Galleries Melbourne inaugural still life award 2021, Portrait prizes at Cambridge Studio Gallery 2015&2017, Southern buoy Studios portrait prize 2020& 2019