Mary Melton

Mary Melton was an artist and printmaker who resided in Richmond, Virginia. Born in Richmond, she received her elementary and secondary education in the Richmond Public Schools. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where she studied Art History and Psychology. Through her exposure to Art History, Mary realized that her true passion was creating her own art. She studied at the Virginia Museum Studio Art Program and at the Visual Art Center in Richmond. She also attended several workshops with nationally recognized artists and continued to study on her own. Mary felt that her art education was an ongoing journey and was always eager to expand her knowledge.

While attending a monotype class at the Virginia Museum, she discovered the exciting possibilities of printmaking. Mary went on to explore monotypes and several other printmaking forms. After becoming interested in encaustic and collage, she attended classes at R & F Paints in Kingston, New York. She also taught monotype printmaking to adults and children and had private students in drawing and painting.

Her work was shown in Richmond and in several other galleries throughout the Commonwealth. A number of her pieces became part of private collections, and one work was acquired by a former presidential candidate. Her art was a/so included in corporate collections such as Westminster Canterbury and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Mary's work received a variety of awards and much praise. She earned Second Place for oils at the Bath County Art Show, an Award of Distinction at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, and several first, second, and juror's choice awards at the Shockoe Bottom Art Center. Her work was also selected for the Metropolitan Richmond Artist Association annual all-member exhibit and several Print Invitational Shows, including those at Longwood College and Emory & Henry College. Mary was also chosen to participate in the First Printmakers Biennial at the Visual Art Center and in the 10 Ground Breaking Printmakers exhibition in Richmond. Several of her works were also juried into the annual University of Richmond Print Exhibitions.

In their Richmond show Wish You Were Here, the National Collage Society recognized Mary's postcard entry as one of sixteen national award winners. Her piece Rule #2 was juried into their annual exhibition at the Longmont Museum in Longmont, Colorado.

In 1999, Mary created an exhibition of eighteen works titled Speaking for Voices Long Silenced, in remembrance and dedication to the Armenian Genocide of 1917. This historic event, often referred to as the "forgotten genocide," held deep personal meaning for her, as her mother and grandmother were both witnesses to and survivors of the tragedy.

Mary also served as president of the Metropolitan Richmond Artist Association and was a member of the National Collage Society, the Virginia Collage Society, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Mary once reflected, "The awards and honors are a wonderful affirmation of my artwork. However, when my granddaughter, Brittany-who became an elementary school teacher -- introduced me to her kindergarten class by saying, 'This is my grandmother-she's an artist,' that was when I truly felt I was an artist."

Our mother, Mary Melton, was an artist whose creativity touched every part of our lives and those of her dear friends and the love of her life, her husband, Nelson. Through her passion for art, she taught us to see the world with wonder, to notice color, light, and beauty in even the smallest moments. Her dedication to her craft left a lasting impression on all of us, inspiring each of us to express ourselves and to approach life with imagination and heart. Her artistic spirit continues to live on in all of us, a beautiful legacy that colors our memories and our lives, just as art will do.