The Works of Mel Myskowski

My work uses found objects, commonplace materials, and mixed media processes to explore identity, gender, and our relationship to the land as a means of introspection and healing. I am interested in the quiet ways material can hold memory—how light, transparency, and surface can suggest what is hidden, protected, or slowly emerging.

Transparency plays a central role in my practice. By layering and manipulating translucent materials, I create visual impressions of veiling and masking that reflect the ways we navigate daily life. These surfaces act as mirrors—inviting reflection while acknowledging what remains unseen. The work often exists in a state of in-between: exposed yet sheltered, fragile yet resilient.

Recent works focus on land as a site of connection to self. Native plants appear as subjects, materials, and imitations, grounding the work in specific environments while referencing cycles of care and growth. The illuminated greenhouse recurs as a symbolic structure within my installations. Drawing from Jungian psychology, where the house represents the self, the greenhouse becomes a space for inner work—a place where growth happens quietly, over time, through sustained attention.

Whether installed in galleries, public spaces, or community settings, my work aims to create moments of pause and accessibility. I view art as a shared environment—one that encourages reflection, connection, and the possibility of healing through presence and care.