Meet Melanie

One can hardly grow up under the canvas of Saskatchewan’s “Living Skies” without feeling an intimate connection to the vast landscapes that often inspire the paintings of Melanie Morstad. As an active outdoor enthusiast,
Melanie’s passion for nature is boldly expressed with colour and an emotional connection.

Melanie’s Business Degree in Marketing combined with the study of painting at the Alberta College of Art and Design, has led to a thriving career as a professional artist. She curated and implemented over 175 pieces of original art in a permanent outdoor gallery in Alberta’s Fish Creek Provincial Park. She is President of the Burns Visual Arts Society, co-founder of the Parkland Solstice Festival Society and participates in various arts organizations. As a certified GOLDEN Artist Educator, Melanie is a positive and enthusiastic mentor and has developed a loyal following of students since 2005. Her work can be found in numerous collections and galleries.

Professional Training

2017  GAEP, GOLDEN Artist Educator Program Certification
2004 – 2009 Bachelor of Fine Arts Program, Painting, Alberta College of Art and Design.
1985 Bachelor of Administration, Marketing/Finance Major, University of Regina.
1982 Bachelor of Arts, Social Sciences, University of Regina.

Solo Exhibitions

2023   Pivot, Framed on Fifth Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
2020-23  Art In The Garden, Calgary, Ab
2021  Garden Party, Stock Home Design, Vancouver. BC.
2018  Harmony, Stock Home Design, Vancouver, BC.
2017  Fusion, Crowsnest Pass Public Art Gallery, Frank, Ab.
2017  Fusion, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
2016  Discovery, The Hive Gallery, Canmore, Ab.
2016  Impressions Of Fish Creek, Environmental Learning Centre, Calgary, Ab.
2015  Vibe, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
2014 Reflect, Lebel Gallery, Pincher Creek, Ab.
2013 Reflect, Framed on Fifth Gallery, Calgary.
2012 Heartlands, Akokiniskway Gallery, Rosebud, Alberta.
2012 Soul, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary.
2012 Evening at The Ranche, The Ranche Restaurant, Calgary.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024
BVAS 45th Anniversary Exhibition, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
Juried Members Show, Leighton Art Centre, Calgary, Ab.
BVAS 45th Anniversary Exhibition, Western GM Museum, Drumheller, Ab.

2023
CS Western Showcase, Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Ab.
Juried Group Exhibition, Lebel Gallery, Pincher Creek, Ab.
Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab. 

2022
Juried Group Exhibition, Lebel Gallery, Pincher Creek, Ab.
CS Western Showcase, Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Ab.
Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.

2021
Art Gallery, Juried Group Show, Calgary Stampede
Mini Masterpieces, Juried Group Show, Calgary Stampede
Juried Members Show, Leighton Art Centre, Calgary, Ab

2020

Juried Members Show, Leighton Art Centre, Calgary, Ab.
Group Exhibition, The Lebel Gallery, Pincher Creek, Ab.

2019

Mini Masterpieces, Juried Group Show, Calgary Stampede.
Juried Members Show, Leighton Art Centre, Calgary, Ab.
Community, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
The North, Points North Gallery, Fort McMurray, Ab.
40th Anniversary Exhibition of the Burns Visual Arts Society, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.

2018

Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
Group Show, Points North Gallery, Fort McMurray, Ab.

2017

Points North Gallery, Fort McMurray, Ab.
Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
Spontaneous Combustion, Leighton Art Centre, Calgary, Ab.

2016

Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
As We Live And Breathe, Crowsnest Gallery, Frank, Ab.

2015

Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
Awareness Of Joy, Crowsnest Gallery, Frank, Ab.
Wonder Years, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
Winter Group Show, Crowsnest Gallery, Frank, Ab.

2014
Connections 13, Group Show, Calgary.
Evening Gala, Shades of Sleep, Calgary.
Still Burning, Burns Visual Arts Society 35th Anniversary Exhibition, Passage Gallery, Calgary
East Side Studio Crawl. Burns Visual Arts Society, Calgary.
Ephemeral. Juried Show, Crowsnest Gallery, Frank, Ab.
Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Summer Juried Show, Calgary.
The Best of Leighton’s Artists. Juried Show, Leighton Art Centre, Calgary.
Oh Canada, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Winter Juried Show, Calgary.

2013
Connections XII, Group Show, Calgary.
Sunstrokes, Crowsnest Gallery. Juried Show. Frank, Alberta.
Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Juried Show, Calgary.
Home, Art at Will Gallery, Juried show, Saskatoon.
Art Recycled, Crowsnest Gallery. Juried show. Frank, Ab.

2012
Branching Out, Art at Will Gallery. Juried Show, Saskatoon.
Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Juried Show, Calgary
Branching Out, Willow Studio, Juried Show, Calgary.

2011
chroma code, Bissett Art Gallery, Calgary
Connections, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Juried Show, Calgary.
The Big Picture, Crowsnest Gallery, Juried Show. Frank, Ab.
Branching Out, Juried Show, Calgary, Saskatoon.

2010
Juried Members Show, Leighton Art Centre, Calgary.
Connections, Juried Show, Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary.
Art: Emotional or Rational, Crowsnest Gallery, Juried Show. Frank, AB.
Cultivation of Art, Black Diamond, Alberta

Collections

The Artisan Gardens, permanent public outdoor installation in Fish Creek Park, Calgary.
Sierra Centre for Dental Wellness, Calgary.
Shades of Sleep, Calgary.
Numerous Private collections

Gallery Representation

Lebel Gallery. Pincher Creek, Ab.
Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, Calgary, Ab.
Stock Home Design. Vancouver, Victoria BC.
Victoria Market Collective, Victoria, BC.

 

Professional Experience

2024    Organizing Committee for the BVAS 45th Anniversary Exhibtions
2017 – 2022  GOLDEN Artist Educator certification
2014 – 2024 President, Burns Visual Arts Society
2014 – Organizing Committee for the Burns Visual Art Society’s 35th Anniversary Exhibition.
2014    Pincher Creek Allied Arts Alliance, Member
2009 – Present Executive, Burns Visual Arts Society, Calgary.
2010 – 2013 Board of Directors, The Ranche at Fish Creek Restoration Society.
2010 – 2011 Jury member for the selection of artists in the Artisan Gardens outdoor installation.
2008 – Present Member of Burns Visual Arts Society.
2008 – 2013 Board of Directors, Parkland Solstice Festival Society, Calgary.
2008 – Present Alberta Society of Artists, Juried Member
2007 – Present Crowsnest Pass Allied Arts Association, Member
2005 – 2020 Instructor, Mentor of Parkland Painting Collective, Calgary
2003 – 2009 Chair of Parkland’s Summer Solstice Art Show, Calgary
2003 – Present Workshop Instructor, Calgary
2001 – Present Leighton Art Centre, Member
2002 – 2010 Founder and member of the Foothills Artists’ Society.