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Biography

Melissa Schappell was raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia and attended Kutztown University of Pennsylvania where she received a Bachelor of Fine Art with a concentration in Drawing and a Bachelor of Science Art Education.  Drawing as a concentration gave her flexibility to work with a variety of media and formats, which suited her natural inclination to work with wet and dry media in non-traditional ways.  She  received her Master of Fine Art Degree from Radford University where she built the foundation for her current work that explores the spaces between art, psychology, and the semiotics of metaphor, storytelling, and symbolism. 

 

Her work is part of various prominent collections including RU Art Museum at the Covington Center, and has been shown at a variety of established academic institutions, museums, and fine art galleries, including the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.  She has also been awarded in a variety of juried exhibitions and fine art festivals, including  Best of Show's,  Virginia's Finest,  Top Artist Under 40 and Judges Choice awards.

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            Curriculum Vitae
 
Education

Kutztown University                                                                                                                                                          

Kutztown, PA                                                                                                                                                                   

College of Visual and Performing Arts                                                                                                                                    Bachelor of Fine Arts: Drawing Concentration      

B.S. in Art Education                                                                                                                                       

Magna Cum Laude

2012

 

Radford University

Radford,VA                                                                                                                                                                                     College of Visual and Performing Arts

Master of Fine Art: Studio Art

2020

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Teaching Experience

2022-Current

-Adjunct Visual Arts Faculty, Tidewater Community College, Norfolk, VA    

  • Currently teach 2d-Design and Art Appreciation

2012- 2017, 2020-Current

- Full Time Visual Arts Faculty, Visual and Performing Arts Academy, Salem High School, Virginia Beach, VA         

  • Currently teach college curriculum level courses to advanced academy art students ages 14-18 including Art History and Production, Painting and Mixed Media, Ceramics and Sculpture, and Senior Synthesis.  Previous courses taught include Visual Thinking Through Art Media, Product Design, Architecture, Animation, and Global Perspectives.

2019; 2020      

- Professor of Record, Art Appreciation, Radford University, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Radford, VA.  

  • Taught 2 MWF Art 100 sections per semester  

2017; 2018  

- Art Faculty, Workshop Instructor, Virginia Museum of Fine Art Studio School, Richmond, VA  

  • Taught 1 and 2 day art workshop intensives for adult ages 

2017; 2018       

- Art Faculty, Rawls Museum Arts Education Outreach Program, Rawls Museum Art, Courtland, VA,  

  • Taught full day art courses once a week for ages 14-18 

2011; 2012

- Art Faculty, ESF Summer Camps, Chester Springs, PA      

  • Taught 5 class periods per day for ages 3-8   

2011

- Teacher Candidate, Clinical Experience, 9th Grade, Whitehall Coplay High School, Whitehall, PA        

- Teacher Candidate, Clinical Experience, 6th and 8th grade, Hamburg Middle School, Hamburg, PA   

     

Awards and Honors

2023

- Judges Choice: Boardwalk Art Show, Sponsored by Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, Virginia

- Award of Merit, An Occasion for the Arts, Williamsburg, Va

- 2nd Place, Teaching Artist Exhibition, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 

2022

- Top Artist Under 40: Boardwalk Art Show, Sponsored by Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, Virginia

- Award of Merit, Teaching Artist Exhibition, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 

2021

- Best In Show: Boardwalk Art Show, Sponsored by Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, Virginia

- Award of Distinction, An Occasion for the Arts, Williamsburg, Va

2020

- Best In Show: Purchase Prize Award, Radford University Art Museum Juried Student Art Exhibition, Radford, Virginia 

2019

- Graduate Teaching Fellowship, MFA Graduate Program, Radford University, Radford, Virginia

- 2nd Place: Virginia’s Finest Award, Boardwalk Art Show, Sponsored by Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, Virginia

- Mixed Media Award of Merit, Sidewalk Art Show, Sponsored by Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, Virginia

- Award of Merit, An Occasion for the Arts, Williamsburg, Va

- Top Graduate Award of Excellence, Radford University Art Museum Juried Student Art Exhibition, Radford, Virginia 

2018

- Graduate Assistantship, MFA Graduate Program, Radford University, Radford, Virginia 

- 3rd Place, 2018 Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival, Juried Fine Art Festival, Norfolk, Virginia          

2017

- Award of Excellence: “Nine,” Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Visual Art Center, Hampton, Virginia

2016              

- Best In Show: “Path,” The Eclectic, National Open Media Juried Exhibition, D'Art Center, Norfolk, Virginia         

- Award of Merit: “Spoken Four” and “Taught Four”, 2016 Rawls Museum Arts Juried Exhibition,  Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, Virginia            

2015 and Earlier:

- Award of Merit: “Control Issues Diptych,” HAL Open Member Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Visual Art Center, Hampton, Virginia                                           

- Awarded by the Superintendent of Virginia Beach for Efficiency and Effectiveness                          

- Outstanding Educator, National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Competition                                     

- Recognition for superior dedication to the field of education from Summer Residential Governor’s School for Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts                                            

- Garnet Valley Senior Art Scholarship and Art Achievement Award                    

 

Exhibitions

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Solo Exhibitions

2020

- Solo Exhibition, UNEXPECTED, Richard Stravitz Sculpture and Fine Art Gallery, Virginia Beach, Virginia,

2018

- Solo Exhibition, Community Gallery, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia,

- Solo Exhibition, Radford University Art Museum Muse Hall Satellite Gallery, Radford University, Radford, Virginia,

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Small Group and Invitational Exhibitions

2023:

- Teaching Artist Exhibition, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia,

2022:

- Teaching Artist Exhibition, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia,

2020:

- Spring MFA Show, Radford University, Radford, Virginia

- New Voices, Invitational Exhibition, Hayloft Gallery, Floyd Center for the Arts, Floyd, Virginia

2019:

- That’s Funny: Art with a Sense of Humor, Invitational Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, Virginia

- Studio 702, Invitational Exhibition, Miller Off Main Street Gallery, Blacksburg, Virginia,

- Studio Perspectives, Invitational Exhibition, Floyd Center for the Arts, Floyd, Virginia,

- GASA Member Group Exhibition, Andrew W. Ross Student Art Gallery, Radford University, Virginia,

- GASA Member Exhibition, Porterfield Gallery, Radford University, Radford, Virginia, 

2018:

- Virginia Museum of Fine Art Studio School Faculty Exhibition, Studio School Gallery, Richmond, Virginia,

2017:

- Celebration of Female Artists Invitational Exhibition, Linda Matney Gallery, Williamsburg, Virginia,

- Getting Our Neon, d’Art Center Members Invitational Exhibition, d’Art Center, Norfolk, Virginia,

- StoryExchange Invitational Event, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia,   

- The Main Event, Invitational Exhibition, The Main Norfolk Hilton Hotel, Norfolk, Virginia,  

2016- 2013: 

- Teaching Artist Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 

2012:

- Kutztown University Fine Arts Senior Exhibition, The Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

- 2012- 2011 Drawing Studio Exhibition, Sheridan Ramp Gallery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, 

- 2012- 2011 Life Drawing Studio Exhibition, Sheridan Lobby Gallery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, 

2011:

- Kutztown University Art Education Senior Exhibition, The Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania,

- 2011- 2010 Garnet Valley Alumni Art Exhibition, Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania 

 

 

Juried Exhibitions

2020: 

- National Juried Exhibition, Academy Center of the Arts, Lynchburg, Virginia

*- Radford University Art Museum Juried Student Art Exhibition, Tyler Gallery, Radford, Virginia

2019:

- Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, Virginia

- Radford City Fine Arts Show, Juried Exhibition, Radford University Art Museum on Tyler, Radford, Virginia

*- Radford University Art Museum Juried Student Art Exhibition, Tyler Gallery, Radford, Virginia

- Olin Hall Biennial Juried Exhibition, Olin Hall Galleries, Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia 

2018:

- MFA Student Juried Exhibition, Online Exhibition, University of Montana 

- Hampton Arts League Open Members Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Gallery, Hampton, Virginia 

2017: 

* - Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, Virginia

- Text and Image, International Juried Exhibition, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, Brooklyn, New York,

- VMRC National Juried Art Exhibition, Park Gables Gallery, Harrisonburg, Virginia,

- Halls of Art National Juried Exhibition, Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, Virginia 

- Hampton Arts League Open Members Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, Virginia, 

- Facing Your Fears, National Juried Exhibition, The d’Art Center, Norfolk, Virginia 

2016:

* - The Eclectic, National Open Media Juried Exhibition, The d’Art Center, Norfolk, Virginia, 

* - Emerging IV, Rawls Museum Arts National Juried Exhibition, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, Virginia, 

- The Artist Studio Invitational Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, Virginia, 

- National Juried Exhibition, Academy Center of the Arts, Lynchburg, Virginia, 

* - Hampton Arts League Open Members Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, Virginia 
2015 and Earlier:   

- Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2016 National Juried Exhibition, Ridderhof-Martin Gallery, University of Mary Washington,                  Fredericksburg, Virginia, 

- Narcissus…The Ultimate Selfie, Goode Theatre, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 

      

Fine Art Festivals 

2017-Current:

- Boardwalk Art Show, Juried Fine Art Festival, Sponsored by Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, VA

- Stockley Gardens, Juried Fine Art Festival, Norfolk, VA

- An Occasion for the Arts, Juried Fine Art Festival, Williamsburg, VA

- Richmond Arts in the Park, Juried Fine Art Festival, Richmond, VA

- Arts in the Middle, Juried Fine Art Festival, Urbanna, VA

- Sidewalk Art Show, Juried Fine Art Festival, Sponsored by Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA

- Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival, Juried Fine Art Festival, Crozet, VA

- Spring Crafted Indie Arts and Crafts Market, Juried Art Marketl, Norfolk, VA

- Gifted, Juried Holiday Art Market, Norfolk, VA 

- Women Who Create, Juried Art Market, Virginia Beach, VA

 

Publication

2023:

- Jeremy Bates Film, “Reflections From Artists and Collectors”, Collector’s Edition, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9RSSHyCNV8 

- Sean Kotz, “An Interview with Artist Melissa Schappell”, News From Around the College, Radford University News https://www.radford.edu/content/cvpa/home/news/Releases/melissaschappellinterview.html 

- Peggy Sijswerda, “Meet Melissa Schappell, Artist,” Art Today, Tidewater Family Plus https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/learning-fun/meet-melissa-schappell-artist

2018:

- “community gallery: melissa schappell: environmental factors” Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.  https://virginiamoca.org/community-gallery-melissa-schappell-environmental-factors

- Duke, Dan.  “ViBe Story Exchange kicks off art and storytelling series in Virginia Beach.” The Virginia Pilot.

https://pilotonline.com/entertainment/columnist/editors-desk/article_ea98f82f-c7f3-5ac4-a616-6d3a2f4fd5d6.html

2017

- 1340Art Magazine, July Issue

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Professional Presentations, Lectures, and Workshops

2023:

-Presenter/Lecturer, Artist Talk, Radford University Art Department, Educational Series, Radford, VA

-Presenter/Lecturer, Artist Talk, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Boardwalk Art Show, PNC Bank VIP Party Virginia Beach, VA

-Presenter/Lecturer, Artist Talk, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Staff Educational Series Virginia Beach, VA

2017- 2020:

-Instructor, Visual Art Masterclasses, Salem High School Visual and Performing Art Academy, Virginia Beach, VA

2017- 2020:

- Mixed Media and Art Career Masterclasses, Henrico High School, Center for the Arts, Henrico, VA

2019: 

-Instructor, “Mixed Media and Collage Workshop,” Class Size 17, Olin Hall Galleries, Salem, VA

2018:

- Mixed Media Masterclass, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA   

2018:

- Collage Workshop for Bookmakers, Virginia Center for the Book, Charlottesville, VA    

2017; 2018:

- Mixed Media and Collage Workshops, Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, VA

2012; 2013:

- Presenter at Pennsylvania Art Education Associate Conference       

 

Artist Residencies and Gallery Representation 

2020-Current:

-Richard Stravitz Sculpture and Fine Art Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA

2017:

- ACYC Sunny Point Artist Residency, New York

- Associate Artist, D’ART Center, Norfolk, VA  

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Professional Service

2017-current

- Owner, Melissa Schappell Art llc

2013-2016 

- Co-Director of Virginia Beach Neptune Festival Youth Art Show                 

2013-2016 

- Co-Curator of VPAA Juried Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA                 

2016, 2017 

- Chair of Installation, Teaching Artist Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA

2010, 2011 

- Co-Curator of Garnet Valley Alumni Art Exhibition, Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania                 

 

Professional Organizations

Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA)

National Art Educators Associations (NAEA)

 

Technical Abilities and Special Qualifications 

2-d: Drawing, Painting, Collage and Mixed Media, and Silkscreen

  • Drawing: Graphite, Charcoal, Pen and Ink, Colored Pencil, Water Soluble/Washes

  • Painting: Watercolor, Gouache, Acrylic, and Water-soluble Oils

  • Silkscreen: Positive/Negative Light Exposure and Emulsions, Stencils, Drawing Fluid and Filler Applications

  • Mixed Media and Assemblage: Wood and Found Object, Paper Sculpture and Collage

  • Canvas Making

3-d: Woodworking, Ceramics, Resin Casting, Assemblage, and Mixed Media

  • Complete wood shop equipment maintenance and management

  • Raku Firing and Electric Kilns

  • Mold Making, Plaster and Resin Casting

  • Hot Wire Tools and Foam Manipulation

  • Pottery Wheel Throwing and Hand-building

Digital Methods

  • Microsoft Office

  • Google Suite

  • Zoom 

  • Virtual Classrooms: Canvas, Schoology, and Desire2Learn

  • Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator

  • WIX website builder

Well-organized, experienced at multi-tasking, and excellent communication skills

Experienced educating and collaborating with diverse populations 

Love of learning and working with students

Experienced in navigating a variety of art exhibition and selling opportunities and running an art business

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