Melanie Bilenker (born 1978) is an American craft artist from New York City who lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] Her work is primarily in contemporary hair jewelry.[2] In 2010 she received a Pew Fellowship in the Arts.[3] Bilenker uses her own hair to "draw" images of contemporary life and self-portraits. The use of hair is an attempt at showing the person, and the moments left or shed behind.[4][5]

Melanie Bilenker
Born1978 (age 45–46)
New York City, US[1]
EducationCrafts and Jewelry, (BFA) University of the Arts, Philadelphia
Alma materUniversity of the Arts, Philadelphia
Websitemelaniebilenker.com

Collections edit

Exhibitions edit

  • 40 Under 40: Craft Futures (July 19, 2012 - February 3, 2013), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery, Washington, D.C.[13]
  • Wear It or Not (March 12, 2013 - June 2, 2013), Museum of Art and Design, New York[14]
  • Jewelry, From Pearls to Platinum to Plastic (June 27, 2015 - January 1, 2017), Newark Museum, New Jersey[15]
  • Outrageous Ornament: Extreme Jewelry in the 21st Century (October 21, 2018 - January 27, 2019), Katonah Museum, New York[16][17]

Awards edit

  • 2015 Peter S. Reed Foundation Individual Artist Grant
  • 2010 Pew Fellowship in the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship
  • 2007 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship
  • 2003 Sienna Gallery EA Award

Source: [18]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Melanie Bilenker". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  2. ^ "About". Melanie Bilenker. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  3. ^ admin (2016-11-30). "Melanie Bilenker". The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  4. ^ "About". Melanie Bilenker.
  5. ^ "This Artist Crafts Victoriana Miniatures Out of Her Own Hair". Vogue. 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  6. ^ Suzanne, Ramljak (2014-05-02). Unique by Design: Contemporary Jewelry in the Donna Schneier Collection. Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 9781588395542.
  7. ^ "melanie bilenker". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  8. ^ "Garden brooch". Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 2018-12-23. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  9. ^ ""Pants" Brooch | The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston". www.mfah.org. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  10. ^ "Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object : Chocolate". www.philamuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  11. ^ "Celebrating female innovators at the Racine Art Museum". 10Best. 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  12. ^ ""Oatmeal" Brooch ("Morning Ritual" Series) | Yale University Art Gallery". artgallery.yale.edu. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  13. ^ "40 under 40: Craft Futures". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  14. ^ "Wear it or Not: Recent Jewelry Acquisitions". madmuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  15. ^ "Jewelry, from Pearls to Platinum to Plastic | Newark Museum | Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  16. ^ "KMA: Katonah Museum of Art | Exhibition Archive". www.katonahmuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  17. ^ "Outrageous Ornament: Extreme Jewelry in the 21st Century". ArtfixDaily. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  18. ^ "Awards & Collections". Melanie Bilenker.