About

Melissa Cooke is a young, up-and-coming player on the international art scene. Her powdered graphite on paper works explore themes of beauty, fantasy, violence, and identity, with the artist casting herself as subject in a myriad of thematic scenarios. Her work confronts the viewer, both with scale and stirring reflections of relationships, sexuality and gender. Her drawings are attracting attention from major art galleries, museums and collectors in Chicago, LA and NYC. Cooke is represented by Koplin Del Rio in Los Angeles, CA and Jenkins Johnson Gallery in New York, NY. Her work has been exhibited in "The Wisconsin Triennial" at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, “To See Ourselves As Others See Us” at the Museum of Wisconsin Art, "On Paper" at the Jenkins Johnson Gallery in New York, and "West Coast Drawings VIII" at the Davidson Galleries in Seattle, Washington, The Miami Art Fair, The LA Art Show and PULSE Contemporary Art Fair in New York. Cooke's first major solo show "You Know Me Better Than I Know Myself" was exhibited at Koplin Del Rio in 2010. Cooke's drawings are in collections such as the Arkansas Art Center, the Howard Tullman Collection, the Wisconsin Union Permanent Art Collection, the Boston Public Library Print Collection, and the Southern Graphics Council Print Collection. Her work was also featured as an Editor's Selection in the latest edition of New American Painting, #89.

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January 11, 2012
in studio
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Temporary studio space in Wisconsin. I officially can not go for a month without drawing.

Temporary studio space in Wisconsin.

I officially can not go for a month without drawing.

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January 11, 2012
in Melissa Cooke studio graphite drawing art Bemis portrait
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My last day as an Artist-In-Residence at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art. There was such a rad base of graphite in the studio, that I left this signature on the floor.

My last day as an Artist-In-Residence at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art.

There was such a rad base of graphite in the studio, that I left this signature on the floor.

16 notes

January 10, 2012
in Melissa Cooke graphite art drawing portrait powder
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Luminescence in the Studio two 50” x 50” graphite drawings

Luminescence in the Studio

two 50” x 50” graphite drawings

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January 10, 2012
in Melissa Cooke drawing art graphite studio powder xerox
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In the Studio: “Surfaced” Series four 49”x38” graphite drawings

In the Studio: “Surfaced” Series

four 49”x38” graphite drawings

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January 5, 2012
in Melissa Cooke studio graphite drawing art footprints portrait
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the inevitable trails in a bedroom-studio

the inevitable trails in a bedroom-studio

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December 20, 2011
in Melissa Cooke drawing art xerox graphite
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Surfaced #2, graphite on paper, 49” x 38”

Surfaced #2, graphite on paper, 49” x 38”

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December 20, 2011
in Melissa Cooke graphite art drawing portrait studio Bemis
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“Surfaced”, six 49” x 38” graphite drawings Melissa Cooke, in the studio

“Surfaced”, six 49” x 38” graphite drawings

Melissa Cooke, in the studio

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November 12, 2011
in Melissa Cooke Bemis art drawing graphite portrait studio in progress
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double decker drawings in the studio

double decker drawings in the studio

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October 30, 2011
in Melissa Cooke graphite drawing art portrait fish fresh powder
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Studio Updates! “Just a Taste”, graphite on paper, 45” x 65”“Dead Friend”, graphite on paper, 38” x 38”

Studio Updates!

“Just a Taste”, graphite on paper, 45” x 65”
“Dead Friend”, graphite on paper, 38” x 38”

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October 21, 2011
in Melissa Cooke Bemis studio graphite art drawing in progress
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Inside my studio at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art. Many new graphite drawings in the works!

Inside my studio at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art.
Many new graphite drawings in the works!

12 notes

October 21, 2011
in Melissa Cooke graphite drawing art fish fresh powder portrait
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“Dead Friend”, graphite on paper, 38” x 38”

“Dead Friend”, graphite on paper, 38” x 38”

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October 17, 2011
in Melissa Cooke graphite art drawing portrait fresh powder xerox
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First of a new series! “Surfaced”, graphite on paper, 49” x 38”

First of a new series!

“Surfaced”, graphite on paper, 49” x 38”

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October 12, 2011
in Bemis Melissa Cooke graphite studio art drawing In Progress
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THE NEW STUDIO Graphite trails and fresh works abound!

THE NEW STUDIO

Graphite trails and fresh works abound!

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October 9, 2011
in Melissa Cooke portrait graphite drawing art fresh powder Bemis
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“And No One Won”, graphite on paper, 49” x 38”

“And No One Won”, graphite on paper, 49” x 38”

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October 8, 2011
in exhibit event drawing
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NOW ON DISPLAY “Too Much But Never Enough” and “Everything is Clear in the Dark” at Davidson Galleries in Seattle, WA October 6-29th http://www.davidsongalleries.com/subjects/blurring/blurring.php

NOW ON DISPLAY

“Too Much But Never Enough” and “Everything is Clear in the Dark” at Davidson Galleries in Seattle, WA

October 6-29th

http://www.davidsongalleries.com/subjects/blurring/blurring.php

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