Melissa Schappell Art
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 also served as Professor of Record for Art Appreciation courses. Currently, she teaches at Tidewater Community College and the Visual and Performing Arts Academy of Salem High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia as she continues to create and exhibit her personal work. Her work explores the spaces between art, psychology, and the semiotics of metaphor, storytelling, and symbolism. The pieces have been shown at a variety of established academic institutions, museums, fine art galleries, and art centers, with recent solo exhibitions at Stravitz Sculpture and Fine Art Galleries and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art Community Gallery. She has also been awarded in juried exhibitions and festivals, including a Best of Show at the 2021 Boardwalk Art Show, Best of Show at the d’Art Center's National Juried Exhibition, and the Museum Purchase Award Winner at Radford University Art Museum’s Juried Student Art Exhibition.
All artworks on this site and in these downloadable pdfs are copyrighted © Melissa Schappell Art and may not be reproduced without permission.
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
Teaching Experience
2022-Current
-Adjunct Visual Arts Faculty, Tidewater Community College, Norfolk, VA
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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
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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.
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Taught 2 MWF Art 100 sections per semester
2017; 2018
- Art Faculty, Workshop Instructor, Virginia Museum of Fine Art Studio School, Richmond, VA
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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,
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Taught full day art courses once a week for ages 14-18
2011; 2012
- Art Faculty, ESF Summer Camps, Chester Springs, PA
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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
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
2020:
- Solo Exhibition, UNEXPECTED, Richard Stravitz Sculpture and Fine Art Gallery, Virginia Beach, Virginia,
- Spring 2020 Virtual MFA Show, Radford University, Radford, Virginia
- 2020 National Juried Exhibition, Academy Center of the Arts, Lynchburg, Virginia
- New Voices, Invitational Exhibition, Hayloft Gallery, Floyd Center for the Arts, Floyd, 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
- 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,
*- 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:
- Solo Exhibition, Community Gallery, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia,
- MFA Student Juried Exhibition, Online Exhibition, University of Montana
- Solo Exhibition, Radford University Art Museum Muse Hall Satellite Gallery, Radford University, Radford, Virginia,
- GASA Member Exhibition, Porterfield Gallery, Radford University, Radford, Virginia,
- Virginia Museum of Fine Art Studio School Faculty Exhibition, Studio School Gallery, Richmond, Virginia,
- Hampton Arts League Open Members Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Gallery, Hampton, Virginia
2017:
- Celebration of Female Artists Invitational Exhibition, Linda Matney Gallery, Williamsburg, Virginia,
* - Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, Virginia,
- Getting Our Neon, d’Art Center Members Invitational Exhibition, d’Art Center, Norfolk, 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
- StoryExchange Invitational Event, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia,
- The Main Event, Invitational Exhibition, The Main Norfolk Hilton Hotel, Norfolk, 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,
- Teaching Artist Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, 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, 2015
- Narcissus…The Ultimate Selfie, Goode Theatre, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 2015
- Teaching Artist Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2015
- Teaching Artist Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2014
- Teaching Artist Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2013
- Kutztown University Fine Arts Senior Exhibition,
The Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, 2012
- Kutztown University Art Education Senior Exhibition,
The Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, 2011
- Garnet Valley Alumni Art Exhibition, Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania 2011
- Drawing Studio Exhibition, Sheridan Ramp Gallery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, 2012, 2011
- Life Drawing Studio Exhibition, Sheridan Lobby Gallery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, 2012, 2011
- Garnet Valley Alumni Art Exhibition, Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania 2010
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
- 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
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.
2017
- 1340Art Magazine, July Issue
Workshops/Lectures/Professional Presentations
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
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
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Drawing: Graphite, Charcoal, Pen and Ink, Colored Pencil, Water Soluble/Washes
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Painting: Watercolor, Gouache, Acrylic, and Water-soluble Oils
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Silkscreen: Positive/Negative Light Exposure and Emulsions, Stencils, Drawing Fluid and Filler Applications
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Mixed Media and Assemblage: Wood and Found Object, Paper Sculpture and Collage
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Canvas Making
3-d: Woodworking, Ceramics, Resin Casting, Assemblage, and Mixed Media
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Complete wood shop equipment maintenance and management
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Raku Firing and Electric Kilns
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Mold Making, Plaster and Resin Casting
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Hot Wire Tools and Foam Manipulation
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Pottery Wheel Throwing and Hand-building
Digital Methods
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Microsoft Office
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Google Suite
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Zoom
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Virtual Classrooms: Canvas, Schoology, and Desire2Learn
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Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator
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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