Melissa Arostegui

My work tells stories – my stories, other people’s stories and stories not yet told. I use bright colors and work in large scale, focusing on the most important subject in the narrative, which may be a portrait or an inanimate, everyday object. I leave the viewer wondering about what is happening and the meaning behind each work.

Melissa Arostegui recalls having a strong interest in shape and color as a child. She spent a lot of time looking at the shapes and outlines of ordinary objects, which shows up in her work. Much of her inspiration came from studying the work of David Hockney and Elizabeth Murray while attending SAIC. This is evident in her large paintings, primarily of bold still life objects and portraits.

Since receiving her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Melissa has participated in several art shows in Illinois including a solo show at the Mission Gallery in Elgin called “A Place She Calls Her Own.” In addition, Melissa participated at Bare Walls, a live event at the Art Institute of Chicago and has been involved in other exhibitions across the country. In 2018, Melissa Arostegui’s work was featured in the magazine Art & Beyond and she was also featured in an online article by Artsy Shark in 2023.

Recent group exhibitions include Refreshing Feminism, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois; and Evolve.Women.Wisdom, Long Hall Gallery, West Hollywood, California.