Studio Portrait taken at SVA Painting & Mixed Media Residency, Summer 2022

Melinda Kiefer Santiago (b. Mt Vernon, NY) is a multidisciplinary artist currently based in Queens, NY. Through painting, assemblage, sculpture, textile, performance, and writing she explores the subconscious, identity as interwoven with the natural environment, and the collective return of the repressed with climate change. In addition to her practice, she collaborates with her partner, Christopher Santiago as Phantasmata, organizing projects for artists in both DIY and formal spaces such as recently co-curating “Dream Alliance” at ChaShaMa 227 W 29th St based on an interdisciplinary journal issue of the Anthropology of Consciousness which they guest co-edited for Fall 2023. Melinda has completed residences at Eco Practicum, Ox Bow, SVA, and ChaNorth. Recent exhibitions and performance venues include SEPTEMBER Gallery, Studio 9D, An/aesthetics Rosekill, Flux Factory Governors Island, ChaShaMa, School of Visual Arts, LABspace, The Wassaic Project, Unison Arts Center, Equity Gallery, Blink Grand State, Secret Project Robot, Flowers for All Occasions (solo), and HiLo (solo as Phantasmata). Melinda holds an MFA from SUNY Purchase College, a BS in Studio Art from Skidmore College, and an Advanced Certificate in Art Education from Hofstra University.

EDUCATION 

2021 Advanced Certificate in Art Education, Hofstra University, cum laude

2017 MFA, Purchase College, SUNY, Purchase, NY, cum laude

2011 BS in Art, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, cum laude

2010 Studio Art Centers International, study abroad program, Florence, Italy 

AWARDS/GRANTS

2022   Flux Factory, Governors Island, NY, Best Costume Ensemble, Parade of the Species

2021   Hofstra University, Dean’s Scholarship, Departmental Scholarship

2015 – 2017 SUNY Purchase College, Presidential Scholarship, NIAF Filomena C. Peloro Scholarship

2014   Jack Kent Cooke, Graduate Award Finalist 

2010   Studio Art Centers International, Florence Italy, Consortium Scholarship, full funding for study abroad

2011   Skidmore College, Jesse Solomon Memorial Award in Painting                                                                            

2011   Skidmore College, Highest Honors, Thesis Exhibition

2011   Skidmore College, Student Opportunity Funds Grant

2007 – 2011 Skidmore College, Anne Reid Scholarship, Columbus Citizens Foundation Scholarship

2010   Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy, Best in Show, Juried Student Exhibition                                   

2009   Skidmore College, Tang Museum Award, Student Exhibition (Juried by Dawn Clements)

2009   Skidmore College, Soave Fair Award, Student Exhibition (Juried by Michael Oatman)

2009   Skidmore College, Tang Museum Party Installation Grant

2008   Skidmore College, Tang Museum Party Installation Grant

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023    Sunroom Pop Up Gallery, Astoria, NY, When the Sky Fall We Rise to Meet it (co-curated with Chris Santiago)

2020    HiLo, Catskill, NY, There is No Thought without a Phantasm (w/ collaborative partner, Chris Santiago) 

2016    Eco Practicum, Labyrinth Talpidae, Permanent Outdoor Installation in Liberty NY (curated by Tal Beery)

2019    Flowers For All Occasions Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Magicicada

2015    Indiginal Gallery, Baltimore, MD, Rebuilt Recollections 

2014    Indiginal Gallery, Baltimore, MD, Indiginal Presents (two person with Ram Sueno)

2011    Round Door Pop Up Gallery, Mt Vernon, NY, Please Knock; Please Sit, Please Pray

2009    Case Gallery, Skidmore College, NY, Reconstruction 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 

2024    College of Staten Island Gallery, CUNY, Staten Island, NY, Dream Works (forthcoming, curated by Siona Wilson)

2023    LABspace, Hillsdale, NY, Holiday 

2023    Studio 9D, New York, NY, Sloom

2023    ChaShaMa 227 W 29th St, New York, NY, Dream Alliance (co-curated with Chris Santiago)

2023    A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Immigrant Centuries

2023    SEPTEMBER Gallery, Kinderhook, NY, Freaky Flowers

2023    1 West Grand Ave, Chicago, IL, BLINK (curated by David Wong)

2022    Rosekill, Kingston, NY, An/aesthetics (curated by Michael Asbill, Lital Dotan, Marielena Ferrer, Emilie Houssart)

2022    LABspace, Hillsdale, NY, Holiday

2022    SVA Flatiron Gallery, New York, NY, Hot Box (curated by Rachel Cohen) 

2022    Flux Factory, Governors Island, NY, Parade of the Species (curated by Sally Beauty)

2021 - 2022 Unison Arts Center, New Paltz, NY, Owning Earth (curated by Tal Beery)

2021    Secret Project Robot, Brooklyn, NY, So Gathering Seems Essential

2021    Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, Alumni Exhibition (online)

2020    LABspace, Hillsdale, NY, Holiday Show

2020    Long Island City Artists, Drawings in a Time of Social Distancing (online)

2020    Gallery Petite, Brooklyn, NY, Osmosis (curated by Tenzin Doma Lama)

2020    Pari Passu Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Semiotic Materialism                                                                                     

2018    7 Belvidere, Brooklyn, NY, Shipping Container (curated by Sally Beauty)

2018    The Living Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Living Gallery 7-Year Anniversary

2018    SEPTEMBER Gallery, Hudson, NY, Recognize You When She Sees You

2017    Art OMI, Ghent NY, Art OMI Staff Show

2017    Richard & Dolly Maass Gallery, Purchase NY, MFA Thesis Show 

2017    Equity Gallery, New York, NY, Artefactual (curated by Faye Hirsch)

2016    Richard & Dolly Maass Gallery, Purchase, NY, Stolen, Lost, Disappeared (curated by Faye Hirsch)

2016    Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown, NY, Lyndhurst Scarecrow Invasion 

2015    Richard & Dolly Maass Gallery, Purchase, NY, Medium Rare (curated by Faye Hirsch)

2015    Jaam Rek Studio, Seattle, WA, Octavia Butler Tribute (curated by Megan Hyde)

2014 - 2013 Old Man Hustle, 3rd Eye Solarized, Purgatory with Piñatas, Brooklyn, NY (curated by Andrea B.)

2013    Schick Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, The Muse at Home

2012    Louise McCagg Gallery, Barnard College, New York, NY, Enduring Ephemera (curated by Ada Wright Potter)

2012    The Loom Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Hello Earth, (curated by Sophie Grant)

2012    CCP Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Passion (curated by Andrea B.)

2011    Tang Teaching Museum, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, Senior Thesis Exhibition

2011    House of Creative Soul Gallery, Saratoga Springs, NY, Skidmore Infusion

2011    Lucy Scribner Library, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, Student Art in the Library

2011    Schick Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, Skidmore Student Exhibition

2010    Saratoga ArtsFest, Saratoga Springs, NY, Recyclemania                                                                                    

2010    SACI Student Exhibition, SACI Gallery, Florence, Italy

2010    Schick Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY, Skidmore Student Exhibition

2010    Lucy Scribner Library, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, Student Art in the Library

2010    Mimosa Gallery, Saratoga Springs, NY, 10 by 10

2009    Schick Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY, Skidmore Student Exhibition

PERFORMANCES 

2023    Flux Factory, Governors Island, NY, Flaming Creature Crawl Parade (curated by Sally Beauty) 

2022 - 2023 Rosekill, Kingston, NY, An/aesthetics (collaboration with Chris Santiago)

2022    Flux Factory, Governors Island, NY, Parade of the Species (curated by Sally Beauty, collaboration with Chris Santiago) 

2021    The Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NY, Haunted Mill (collaboration with Chris Santiago)

2021    Craw Mansion, Wassaic, NY, Dream Alliance Summit (DIY outdoor performance festival, co-curated with Chris Santiago)

2020    The Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NY, Haunted Parade (collaboration with Chris Santiago as local artists)

2018 - 2020 Dancing Sickness, DIY performances in NYC and Hudson Valley (collaboration with Chris Santiago)

2017    SEPTEMBER Gallery, Hudson, NY, Communion Droplet, Witches Opening Exhibition

2016    Eco Practicum, Liberty, NY, Labyrinth Circling (environmental justice school performance, curated by Tal Beery)

2016    Fields Festival, Baltimore, MD, 'In Watermelon Sugar' (co-directed by Isa Leal and Ren Pepitone)

2015    The Crown, Baltimore, MD, Spring Fever (Iron Rainbow, directed by Isea Leal) 

2014    5th Dimension, Baltimore, MD, Everything All the Time (Iron Rainbow, directed by Isa Leal)

2014    Gristle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, EMP Collective, Baltimore, MD, More Like A Monk (Iron Rainbow, directed by Isa Leal)

2014    Soundnest, Artscape, Baltimore, MD (Iron Rainbow, directed by Isa Leal)

RESIDENCIES 

2023   ChaNorth, Pine Plains, NY (Upstate Art Weekend)

2022   SVA, Painting & Mixed Media, New York, NY

2021   Ox-Bow, Conversations in Practice, full scholarship (online)    

2016   Eco Practicum, Liberty, NY, fellowship     

CURATION

2023   ChaShaMa 227 W 29th St, New York, NY, Dream Alliance (co-curated with Chris Santiago featuring 23 artists)

2021   Craw Mansion, Wassaic, NY, Dream Alliance Summit (DIY performance festival, co-curated with Chris Santiago)

2018   Bohemian Grove, Solstice Show & Performances, Brooklyn, NY, (DIY space, co-curated with Chris Santiago)

PUBLICATIONS/PRESS
2023     Anthropology of Consciousness Journal, "Art and Consciousness,"American Anthropology Association, 

               Wiley Publishing, (Guest Co-Editor with Chris Santiago, Special Issue Fall ’23)

2023     “Experimentation, Camaraderie at ChaNorth” , The Millerton News (by Deborah Maier)

2023     “Exhibition Review: ‘Freaky Flowers’ at September Gallery in Kinderhook,” Chronogram (by Taliesin Thomas)

2023     “Art On the Streets,” SVA ContinuEd Newsletter Summer 2023 

2021     “Who Owns the Earth?” Owning Earth Exhibition Review, Hyperallergic (by Louis Bury)

2021    “Bathtub Grotto,” Owning Earth Catalogue, printed by Unison Arts Center

2021    “How To Unlearn Drawing,” Zine printed by Ox-Bow School of Art Residency

2016     “Announcing Eco Practicum’s 2016 Artist in Residence,”  Eco Practicum (by Tal Beery)

2016    “Lunch,” MoMA PS1 Staff Zine, printed Artbook, MoMA PS1, NY 

2012    “Oankali,” print publication (curated by Megan Hyde)   

VISITING ARTIST/LECTURES/PANELS

2024    University of Louisville, Hite Institute of Art & Design, Louisville, KY, (forthcoming) artist talk and studio visits

2024    University of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM (forthcoming) artist talk and studio visits 

2023    Spence School, Manhattan, NY, artist talk and painting demo

2022    Make It, Mend It Skill Swap Series, Brooklyn, NY, Collage, Community & Creative Spaces, collage workshop

2022    Anthropology of Consciousness, interdisciplinary online slides lecture

2022    The Painted Cloud, Brooklyn, NY, artist talk and collage workshop

2021    University of Oklahoma, College of Education, Arts Integration, OK, online slides lecture

2020    Unison Arts Center, New Paltz, NY, On Roots and Rooting – Owning Earth Artist Panel, online

2017    Purchase College, CUE Art Foundation, Manhattan, NY, Pecha Kucha presentation

RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Loyola School NYC, 2022 – Present, Manhattan, NY, Director of Visual Art

BRIC Arts Media, 2019 – 2021, Remote & Brooklyn, NY, Teaching Artist                                                                            

The Painted Cloud, 2019 – 2020, Brooklyn, NY, Teaching Artist                                                                                             

Paula Hayes Studio, 2010 – 2017, New York, NY, Studio Assistant                                                   

Art OMI, 2017, Ghent, NY, Teaching Artist  

SEPTEMBER Gallery, 2017, Hudson, NY, Yoga Instructor 

Purchase College, SUNY, 2015-2017, Adjunct Drawing Professor, Graduate Teaching Assistant – Painting, Art Theory

MoMA Ps1, 2011-2013, Queens, NY, Visitor Services Associate

Tang Museum, 2009-2011 Skidmore College, NY, Gallery Attendant