Melissa Behr’s constant strive is towards perfecting her craft and reinventing her paintings. She is profoundly fond of combining the idea of real and unreal. Melissa paints by free association and believes a good piece evolves naturally as accident combined with aesthetic intuition brings the unconscious to consciousness. She is fond of magical dreamlike elements, exploring and examining themes that preoccupy the subconscious mind; the passing of time, death, nature, (in a metaphysical rather than literal sense) sexuality, beauty, temptation, fear and world religions. Her current work can be seen at Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ.Melissa Behr began developing her artistic talents in Rockford, Illinois as a writer for her high school paper. In school she excelled in the arts, winning her first submission at “The Chicago Young Artist Award” for one of her sketches. This inspired her to pursue her artistic talents, going on to major in graphic design at Montana State University and then moving to California in pursuit of a career in design. Arriving in Los Angeles, she was immediately distracted by the allure of the fashion industry—leading her to New York—chasing a modeling career. She spent the next ten years traveling between Paris, Milan and New York for Click, Wilhelmina and Karen Models. Desiring to expand her talents, she moved back to Los Angeles and trained for two years in Joan Baron’s Mysner technique acting classes. She landed her first role, in “The Door’s”, followed by numerous rolls in commercials, film and TV, “Married with Children,” “Nash Bridges,” “The Marrying Man,” to name few.
After being in front of the camera, she was inspired to get behind it—gaining notoriety as a photographer, shooting portraits of high profile celebrities such as Yoko Ono, ZZ Top, Dwight Yoakam, Billy Idol, Allen Ginsburg, Jeff Goldblum, Giovanni Rabisi, Julliette Lewis and Timothy Leary. After seeing her work, Paul Marciano commissioned her to photograph a major ad campaign for Guess—set in Montana. While acting, Melissa got a taste of producing. She formed a company called S & M Independent Films Inc. to write, direct, produce and star in her first feature length movie, “Me and Will” (1999). The film premiered on “Sundance Channel,” “Lifetime Movie Network,” and “Showtime.” It was written up in magazines nationwide.
Check Melissa's prints out on our website, you will not be disappointed with the creativity and talent she brings to our collection of talented artists.
