CV
Melanie Caple
Email: melanie<AT>artseleven.com.au
ABN: 12 662 930 145
Professional Appointments
Arts Eleven Projects, Director (2019 - present)
Judge, John Leslie Art Prize (2022, 2024)
Associate Curator, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale (2022 - present)
Archibald Prize Project Manager, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale (2021)
Nicholas Building Association Core Committee Member (2019 - 2020)
Assistant Director, Flinders Lane Gallery (2014 - 2019)
RMIT University Arts Funding Panel Assessor. (2014 - 2015)
National Association of Visual Artists (NAVA) - Professional Member.
Regional Arts Victoria - Member.
Golden Key International Honours Society - Member.
Education
2014. Master of Arts (Arts Management). Graduated with Distinction. RMIT University.
2012. Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting). Graduated with Distinction, RMIT University.
EXHIBITION HISTORY
Solo Exhibitions
October 2018. ‘out in the darkness / seafood / skin test / i love you too’ Solo Exhibition, Enough Space, Prahran
September 2018. ‘Covered,’ Marios, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
November 2017. 'Almost Solo V3,' Incube8r Gallery, Fitzroy.
August 2017. 'Specimens', Marios, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
December 2016 - January 2017. 'In A Darkened Room,' Gecko Studio Gallery, Fish Creek.
September 2016. 'Inked,' Alternating Current Artspace, Windsor.
October 2015. 'Dripping in Gold', Marios, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
August 2015. 'I wake to see the world gone wild' Dick Bishop Memorial Prize Winner, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Morwell.
May 2012. ‘Innate Right’ (to coincide with Human Rights Week.) Shown through RMIT Links and Culture.
November 2011 – January 2012. Solo Exhibition, La Cannella Restaurant, Kensington,
July/August 2011. ‘Personal Inflictions’. Three Bags Full, Abbotsford,
Murals - Design and Installation.
2024. Pigeon with a mohawk and juvenile magpie, Carlton North Primary School.
2024. For Wallaroo, Wallaroo Primary School, Hastings.
2024. Dusk, South Gippsland Shire Council, Korumburra.
2024. Benalla Street Art Festival, Benalla, Victoria. Curated by Eddie Zammit.
2024. Golden Hour, Neerim South, Neerim South Progress Association.
2024. Myths and Muses, Elliott Davies, Leongatha. Private Commission
2024. Kitchen and Cottage Botanicals, Lamezleighs, Mirboo North
2024. Electrical Box Painted Works, South Gippsland Shire Council, Leongatha.
2023. Leongatha Maternity Ward Mural, Leongatha Hospital
2023. Magpie, bush-peas and pink bells, Neerim South Primary School, Neerim South
2023, Lark and Botanicals, Laughing Lark Cafe, Frankston.
2023. Flight Path, Elder Street South Reserve, City of Kingston, Clarinda.
2023. Western Plains Landscape Details for Tesla, Victorian Big Battery, Moorabool.
2023. Botanical Corridor of Western Plains, Sunshine Hospital, Western Health.
2023. Orcas Deep Dive, commissioned artist for Under the Sea Project, Just Another Agency
2023. Scarlet Honeyeater and Pied Cormorant. Deery Engineering, Inverloch.
2023. Australasian Bittern, pouched lamprey, white faced heron. galaxia fish and botanicals for Kaurna Country, Henley Beach, Adelaide. City of Charles Sturt.
2023. Bendigo Bank Community Foundation Native Orchids, Mirboo North.
2023. Selected Artist, Urban Canvas Mural Festival, Windsor Melbourne.
2023. Art installations at Bunyip and Longwarry railway stations, Regional Rail Victoria. 2023 Poppies, Carnations and Rosemary, Seaford, Frankston City Council.
2023. Art Deco Herons and Diamonds, Fitzroy. Private Commission.
2023. Magpie and Tui, Abbotsford. Resene Paint HQ.
2023. Locals, Seaford. Frankston City Council.
2022. Common Heath and Blue Gum, Leongatha. South Gippsland Shire Council.
2022. White Correa and Hop Pea, Seaford. Frankston City Council.
2022. Kookaburra and Rosella, with Maffra High School Students, Gippsland Art Gallery.
2022. ART CUBES, Colour and Landscape, South Gippsland Shire Council.
2022. Eastern Spinebill Urban Courtyard, Carlton. Private Commission.
2022. Blue Mallow and Valerian, Richmond. Mellow Fellow Restaurant.
2022. Black-Faced Cuckoo Shrike, Smokebush and Colour, Melbourne. Redbubble Offices.
2022. Orchids and Natives Interior, Footscray. Private Commission.
2022. Eucalypts and Colour Panels, Fitzroy. St Vincent’s Hospital.
2022. Giants, Moe. Show Me Some Art Festival.
2022. Moonlighting, Frankston Big Picture Festival, with Frankston High
2022. Frankston Electrical Box Mural project, Frankston City Council, Frankston
2022. Mosman Waratah, Fig and Banksia, Mosman City Council. Mosman, Sydney
2022. Albert Park Botanicals and Portrait, with Dagmar Cyrulla, Albert Park.
2022. CLAY cornucopia, Clay Health and Organics, Carlton.
2022. Crimson, Blue and Carlton, private commission, Carlton
2022. Don’t Forget Colour, Carinya Lodge, Korumburra.
2022. Urban Botanicals and Brick, private commission, Richmond.
2022. Coastal Banksia and Wattle Monochromes, private commission, Inverloch.
2022. Viminalis, private commission, The Cape, Cape Paterson
2021. Past and Present, Mirboo North, in collaboration with Mirboo North and District Foundation and Mirboo North Secondary College.
2021. Modern Mediterranean, private commission, Anchor restaurant, Elwood.
2021. Butterfly Noir, Frankston City Council, Armstrongs Road, Seaford.
2021. Heron, Wattle Et Al, private commission, Leongatha Health Hub.
2021. Lush Green Botanicals with Black, private commission, Bendigo.
2021. Luxe Interactive Mural, Sweet Life Cafe, Leongatha.
2021. Swamp Gum, Tea Tree and Banksia, Seaford Library, Seaford.
2021. Pelican and Ibis, Frankston Big Picture Festival, in collab with Frankston High School.
2021. Acacia and Eucalyptus - Moe, Show Me The Art Festival, Moe.
2021. Eastern Rosella and Wattle from Nerrena, Leongatha Primary School.
2020. Monarch and Daisies, My Leongatha Beauty, Leongatha.
2020. Foster Botanicals, in collab with students from Foster High School, Foster.
2020. Harvest Botanicals, Harvest Laneway Nursery, Leongatha.
2020. Coastal Banksia, Forage and Grind, Leongatha
2020. Urban Jungle Adventure, private commission, Northcote
2018. Narwhal, private commission, Thornbury.
2018. It’s Like A Jungle Sometimes, Roi Apartments Communal Area, North Fitzroy.
Group Exhibitions
September 2023. ‘FITZROY NOW’, Group Exhibition curated by Arts Eleven, Marios, Fitzroy.
June 2023. ‘Gather Together,’ Curated Exhibition to coincide with Dark MOFO.
Fort Heart pop-up, Salamanca, Hobart.
April 2023. ‘Off The Kerb’s 16th Anniversary Show,’ Off The Kerb, Collingwood
November 2022. ‘For the Deckade,’ Fort Heart Co, Backwoods Gallery, Collingwood
September 2022. ‘Negative Space,’ Just Another Agency, Melbourne.
June 2022. ‘The Record Collection Art Show,’ Fort Heart and Brunswick Artist Bar, Melbourne
July 2022, ‘Dealer’s Choice - 12th Birthday,’ Just Another Agency, Melbourne
June 2022, ‘Winter Days,’ Off The Kerb Gallery, Collingwood.
August 2020. ‘Art in Iso Exhibition,’ Stockroom Gallery, Clifton Hill.
February 2020. ‘Bushfire Fundraiser Exhibition,’ Stockroom Gallery, Clifton Hill.
December 2019. ‘First Year Anniversary 12x12,’ Stockroom Gallery, Clifton Hill.
November 2019. ‘Finalist Exhibition,’ KAAF Art Prize, Korean Cultural Centre, Sydney.
November 2019. ‘Linden Art Postcard Show,’ Linden New Art, St Kilda.
October 2019. Blindside Annual Fundraiser, Blindside, Melbourne.
June 2019. ‘In The Round,’ Gecko Studio Gallery, Fish Creek.
December 2018. ‘12x12,’ curated by Melika Davies, Stockroom Gallery, Clifton Hill.
October 2018. ‘Blossom and Bloom’, curated by Brigita La, Ladder Art Space, Kew.
May 2018. 'Stille' curated by Casey Freeman, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne
December 2017. 'Summer Smalls Exhibition,' Southern Buoy Studios, Mornington.
December 2017. 'Small Works Art Prize,' Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy.
November 2017. 'Linden Art Postcard Show,' Linden Art at Domain House, Melbourne.
September 2017. 'Southern Buoy Studios Launch Exhibition', Southern Buoy, Mornington, Victoria.
March 2016. A4 Art Australia Exhibition, facilitated by the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, Herring Island, Melbourne.
December 2015. 'Hi, We're New Here,' curated by Jacqui Burnes and Laura Main, Enough Space, Prahran
September - November 2015. Gippsland Print Award, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale.
March 2013. ‘NOW! #2,’ Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy.
March 2013. ‘Bunting Bowen’, with make+shift+projects. Bowen Lane, Melbourne CBD.
December 2012. ‘Graduate Exhibition’ for Bachelor of Fine Arts, Expanded Studio Practice at RMIT University.
November 2012. New Collectables Auction, RMIT First Site Gallery, Melbourne.
June 2011. ‘Everything is dead while it lives’, Owl and the Pussycat Gallery, Richmond.
November 2010 & 2011. New Collectables Auction, RMIT First Site Gallery, Melbourne.
November 2006. Studio Art Graduation Show, Leongatha High School Arts Centre, Leongatha.
Awards/Grants
2024. Finalist, Omnia Art Prize, Toorak VIC.
2024. Finalist, Percival Portrait Painting Prize, Townsville QLD.
2023. Finalist, St Kevin’s Omnia Art Prize, Melbourne
2022. Finalist, KAAF Art Prize, Sydney
2019. Finalist, KAAF Art Prize, Sydney
2019. Linden Postcard Show, Linden New Art, VIC
2018. Finalist, Collins Place Summer Art Award, Melbourne.
2017. Linden Postcard Show, Linden New Art, VIC
2016. People's Choice Award Winner, Roi Art Prize, City of Yarra.
2015. Finalist, Gippsland Print Award, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale
2015. Winner, Dick Bishop Memorial Prize. Latrobe Regional Gallery.
2013. Pozible - Creative Crowdfunding. Successful Campaign.
2013. RMIT University Link Arts Second Semester Funding. Successful
2013. RMIT University Quick Response Grant. Successful.
Curatorial and Arts Projects
2022-2023. Project Co-Manager and Curator, Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre, Western Health, Arts Eleven.
2021-2024. Vinyl Electrical Box Designs, Frankston City Council
2022. Artist Selected for Regional Rail Gippsland Line Public Artwork.
After a two round selection process, I was selected to create two artwork designs for the new Bunyip and Longwarry Train stations as a part of the Regional rail upgrade in Victoria’s Big Build Project. Two artworks were designed to be manufactured onto picperf aluminium and feature at the entry point to each of the stations. The designs feature key industrial features of the two towns, as well and native flora and wildlife.
Due for completion: December 2022.
2022. Bio Cup Artwork Series, BioPak Packaging
2022. St Vincent’s Covid Reflection Space, Fitzroy.
Working alongside Rick Rutjens through Arts Eleven, a new outdoor space at St Vincent’s Hospital was created to act as space of reflection for those who were impacted on by the covid-19 pandemic.
Arts Eleven engaged tilers to re-tile the site; commissioned Dylan Black, concrete sculptor, to create a physical reflection pool and seating; landscaped the site and created dibond art panels to compliment the space.
2022. Toora Primary School Mural, with Kaff-eine and The Social Crew.
Brought on board by the team at The Social Crew to be a painting assistant for
Kaff-eine for the Toora Mural Project. Kaff-eine had badly injured her ankle, so we worked collaboratively to paint the Toora Primary School gym over ten days. Kaff designed the wall based on the Snake Island muster, where local farmers would usher cattle across the channel at low tide on horseback. The whole town embraced the mural, and working alongside Kaff-eine for those ten days - managing priming, painting, the boom lift and projecting the design - was an incredible experience.
2021. Connections/Disconnections, artwork created for MS Connect, Sydney
2021. Big Picture Festival, Mentoring Mural Artist, Frankston City Council.
Contracted by Frankston City Council and the Frankston Art Centre to work with students from Frankston High School to develop a 4.8m high x 27m wide mural as a part of the city’s Big Picture Festival, staged in March 2021.
2021. Yarram Chalk Art Festival, Participating Artist, Yarram, South Gippsland.
I was invited by the Yarram Traders Association, Matt Langdon and international artist Lautaro Musse to participate in the inaugural Yarram Chalk Art Festival. Nine artists were invited who originated from all over the world to create large scale chalk drawings over the two day event in Yarram, where spectators watched us work.
I created a 2.5 x 3metre drawing that depicted local coastal banksia, prickly tea tree, erect guinea flower, corymbia ficafolia and two New Holland Honeyeaters.
2020. Shortlisted artist for the Avon River Bridge Mural Project, commissioned by Rail Projects Victoria.
2020. Girls Own Space Project, Facilitating Artist, South Gippsland Shire Council.
With funding from a VicHealth grant to create a work of public art with a group of young women aged 13 - 18 in South Gippsland, I created a large scale mural in the township of Foster that depicted different flora specimens, acting as a homage to sense of place for the women.
2014. Melbourne Music Video Festival, Co-Founder.
Held across various locations around Melbourne featuring a curated selection of emerging and mid-career musicians, and film and music video producers.
Publications.
2015. Kumiho Collective, Volume One. Published artwork.
2012. Artwork featured in the short film, 'Chasing Time.' Directed by 8 Sticks Collective productions.
2011. Visible Ink Anthology, 'The Screen Door Snaps,' Published artwork.
Collections.
Completed various commercial and privately commissioned art works.
Works held in private collections both nationally and internationally (UK, Canada, The Netherlands, Geneva, USA, Indonesia)
Commissioned Artist Catalogue Essays.
2021. Brett Ferry, Crossing The Field, FLG
2021. Michelle Molinari, Reflection, FLG
2017. William Breen After The Storm, FLG
2017. Emma Michaelis Quietude, FLG
2017. Michael Gromm Disco End Ever, FLG
2017. Emma Michaelis Quietude, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
2016. Meg Cowell Deeper Water, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
2016. Jon Eiseman Shifting Landscapes, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
2016. Gina Kalabishis, You & Me, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
2016. Kathryn Ryan, New Works, Flinders Lane Gallery, February
2015. Jacob Leary, The Origins of Superfluous Flinders Lane Gallery, December.
2015. Claire Bridge, Future Memory, Flinders Lane Gallery, August.
2015. Josh Robbins, Roost, Flinders Lane Gallery, May.
2015. Karlee Rawkins Never Never River. Flinders Lane Gallery, February.