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.

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May 11, 2012
in Melissa Cooke art exhibit drawing graphite artist studio
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ONE WEEK until the opening of “SURFACED”

May 19th-June 16th
Opening reception Saturday May 19th, 5-7pm. Artist’s Remarks at 5pm
Koplin Del Rio Gallery, 6031 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Hope to see you there!

(Photos taken with Instagram.  For more, follow melissacooke on Instagram)

(Source: melissacookeart.com)

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April 27, 2012
in Melissa Cooke graphite drawing art artist studio portrait mouth
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“Slathered”, 50” x 38” graphite on paper

(Source: melissacookeart.com)

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April 19, 2012
in exhibit graphite art drawing Madison Melissa Cooke
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“Masked”
May, 2008, Project Lodge, Madison, WI

(Source: melissacookeart.com)

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April 15, 2012
in Melissa Cooke graphite art drawing studio portrait
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in the studio

in the studio

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April 6, 2012
in drawing art graphite portrait studio Melissa Cooke
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“Washed Out”, graphite on paper, 50” x 50”
by Melissa Cooke

(Source: melissacookeart.com)

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March 30, 2012
in graphite art drawing graphite portrait studio Melissa Cooke
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new works in progress

new works in progress

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March 12, 2012
in Melissa Cooke art drawing graphite portrait
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new drawings in progress in the new studio

new drawings in progress in the new studio

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February 2, 2012
in Melissa Cooke Artists on Tumblr art graphite drawing portrait
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“Luminescence #2”, graphite on paper, 50” x 50”

“Luminescence #2”, graphite on paper, 50” x 50”

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February 2, 2012
in Melissa Cooke Artists on Tumblr art graphite drawing portrait
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“Luminescence #1”, graphite on paper, 50” x 50”

“Luminescence #1”, graphite on paper, 50” x 50”

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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.

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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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April 3, 2011
in exhibit art drawing graphite Melissa Cooke
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“Face To Face: The Changing Face of Portraiture”
April 3-May 27, 2011, Cannon Art Gallery, Carlsbad, CA

(Source: melissacookeart.com)

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May 22, 2010
in exhibit museum art drawing graphite Melissa Cooke
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“The Wisconsin Triennial”
May 22-August 15, 2010, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison, WI

(Source: melissacookeart.com)

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February 27, 2010
in exhibit graphite drawing Melissa Cooke LA
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“You Know Me Better Than I Know Myself”
February 27-April 10, 2010, Koplin Del Rio, Los Angeles, CA

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