Melissa Gillespie is a passionate South Australian Contemporary Jeweller who has been involved in the arts and jewellery industry for almost twenty years following her Bachelor of Visual Arts (Jewellery and Metal) Degree at the South Australian School of Art in 2004. In 2005 and 2006, Melissa became an access tenant at Adelaide’s well-known Gray Street Workshop where she further began to immerse herself in the world of contemporary jewellery and objects by relishing in the unique opportunity to experiment with various materials and processes in the presence of South Australian artists and mentors, Leslie Matthews and Julie Blyfield. Since 2005 Melissa has participated in over 80 group exhibitions in South Australia and interstate including, “New Design 2005” at Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design in Sydney (NSW) in 2005, “The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize” at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide (SA) in 2007, the “National Contemporary Jewellery Award” at Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith (NSW) in 2008 and, the “Contemporary Wearable’s 21 Biennial Jewellery Award and Acquisition” at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery in Toowoomba (QLD) in 2021. Melissa currently lives and works in the Northern suburbs of Adelaide pursuing a full-time jewellery practice from her home-based studio where she produces a broad range of Contemporary Jewellery and objects for various shops and galleries across Australia, creates specific themed work for upcoming exhibitions, and takes delight in the design and manufacturing process of hand crafting unique, ‘one off’ commission pieces for her clients. Inspired by nature’s fragility and vulnerability Melissa continues to follow her passion for art and jewellery making, predominantly working with sterling silver and natural objects.
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