Melissa Ladkin

Bio / CV

Melissa is a contemporary Aboriginal artist living on Bundjalung country, Northern NSW. A proud descendant of the Awabakal / Wonnarua / Bundjalung peoples, Mel has been caring for country most of her life. From a young age, Mel experienced a deep and intuitive connection to the land. She felt the earth speak to her and was moved by the richness and depth of the colours that form the many ochres she has come across over time.

For over 30 years, Mel has worked in the bush, with native plants, trees and their habitats as a land conservationist and has always been fascinated with geology, rocks, minerals and soils. Working specifically with ochre, the careful and respectful collection to the processing is a significant and alchemical process, they are slowly blended and formed into pigment for painting.

This is a very personal journey, a time of deep connection and acknowledgement of all that have come before her. Mel’s collection of artworks has evolved with much thought, care and respect. Her practice speaks of an ancient wisdom, and she hopes her work will inspire others to open to the spirit of the land and to the rich culture and knowledge that it holds.

"Ochres are living, sentient beings, filled with energy and spirit and hold a knowing that is learned over deep time. I acknowledge and honour the connection that my people and all traditional owners have to this ancient medium. I respect and understand that each different nation/clan/family group has its own history, traditional cultural practices, protocols and spiritual beliefs to ochres. These ochre stories are the palette of my cultural expression and I hope they can evoke and resonate with your own connection to country and how you walk upon it."

Exhibitions

Precious Commodities – Solo Exhibition, Ninbella Art Gallery, December 2020

Heal Country – Group Exhibition, Bunyarra Collective, July 2021

Terambamba – Rising Ground, Ninbella Art Gallery, November 2021

Yapang Art Prize – Finalist, MAC Museum of Art & Culture, December 2021

Perspectives on Country – Group Exhibition, Ninbella Art Gallery April 2022

Lethbridge Landscape – Finalist Salon des refusés online Art Prize 2022

Balmy – Group Show, Gallery Raye, April 2022

Wild Pigment Project – Group Show, Form & Concept Gallery Santa Fe, New Mexico September 2022

Prizes

MAC Museum of Art & Culture – Finalist Yapang Emerging Art Prize 2021

Lethbridge Landscape – Finalist Salon des refusés Art Prize 2022