FLAVA FRESH 23 !
July 10 - August 7
KRYSTII MELAINE
Born 1963 in Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia; lives in Cody, Wyoming
Looking skywards with tufted ears alert, this Canadian Lynx reminds me of how I listen to the wind now that I live in Wyoming. His long legs and huge paws give him a statuesque quality while seated. Painting him was a study in textures, from glassy eyes to multiple layers of soft, dense fur. The pale background allows his luminous eyes and dark markings to stand out, while the rest blends quietly into the environment.
KRYSTII MELAINE IS A CELEBRATED AUSTRALIAN-AMERICAN painter whose dynamic career spans traditional realism and contemporary abstraction. With a foundation in classical oil painting, she is renowned for her emotionally resonant portraits, finely rendered wildlife, and evocative Western imagery. Recognized for her technical excellence and unique artistic vision, Krystii’s paintings reside in many museum collections.
Melaine began her creative journey in childhood, selling her first paintings by the age of fourteen. After founding a successful fashion design house in her early twenties, she redirected her path to fine art, undertaking rigorous atelier studies in tonal realism. Her work quickly gained acclaim for its refined depictions of wildlife, cowboys, and Native American life, anchored in deep cultural research and authentic personal experience.
In recent years, Melaine has expanded her artistic vocabulary with a bold departure into abstraction and large-scale contemporary figurative work. These pieces explore the intangible—energy, memory, atmosphere—with layered compositions and modern aesthetics that feel both elegant and expansive. What unites the breadth of her portfolio is a singular artistic vision: to create work that is beautiful and inspiring. Melaine’s paintings are not merely visual statements; they are emotional invitations, designed to resonate with collectors who seek meaning and originality.
With numerous major awards and a long-standing presence in prestigious museum exhibitions, Krystii Melaine continues to shape the contemporary art world through fearless reinvention. Her work is a testament to the power of disciplined skill meeting boundless imagination — a timeless yet ever-evolving artistic journey.
Gallery Representation
Sanders Galleries, Tucson, Arizona
Broadmoor Galleries, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Mountain Trails Galleries, Jackson, Wyoming, Park City, Utah, and Bozeman, Montana
Big Horn Galleries, Cody, Wyoming, and Tubac, Arizona
Going to the Sun Gallery, Whitefish, Montana
Santa Fe Trails Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Marshall Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
Trailside Galleries, online