Melanie Brock, originally from Indiana, moved to Brooklyn last year to be at the center of the contemporary art world. Her work, mostly abstract painting, explores the relationship and effects of the built environment on a city’s inhabitants, and equally on how human presence affects our surroundings. Having moved from a small town to a busy and crowded city, she is acutely aware of the impact this change has had on her relationship to her environs; the city has become the lens through which she interprets and develops her layered and highly personal paintings. Each piece is created from observations and memories of an often-fleeting moment embedded as form, its energy manifest as color and motion.
Brock received a Master of Architecture in 2021 from Indiana University, where she was part of the inaugural cohort. During her master’s she participated in dual architectural and visual art studios for the duration of the program, ultimately deciding to pursue her career as a visual artist. Her work has been exhibited in Indiana and Pennsylvania over the past few years, and she participated in Gowanus Open Studios in 2022. Melanie is honored to be among the inaugural recipients of the Liu Shiming Art Grant, awarded for the first time in 2023 to emerging artists. Afterimage is her first New York solo gallery exhibition. Later this year she will have a second solo at Sweet Lorraine Gallery in Brooklyn.
Fran Kaufman is a partner in Kaufman Vardy Projects, an international consultancy focused on strategic marketing and curatorial practice as well as advising private and institutional clients. She was a partner in Rosenberg + Kaufman Fine Art in NYC for 17 years, and subsequently directed both palmbeach3 contemporary art fair and the first Houston Fine Art Fair. Fran has curated numerous projects in the US, Europe and Latin America and is a frequent lecturer and panelist on art market issues. She often writes about art for catalogues and other publications.
Melanie Brock: Afterimage, curated by Fran Kaufman will be on view from April 25 through May 12th at The Blanc Art Space, 15 East 40th Street, 2nd Floor, NYC. An Opening Reception will be held on Thursday, April 27th from 6-8pm.
The Gallery is open Monday ~ Friday from 11am to 5pm or by appointment. The exhibition is sponsored by the Liu Shiming Art Foundation.