Melissa Joseph

Pronouns: she/her

April 7 to June 20, 2025

Melissa Joseph is a New York City-based interdisciplinary artist whose art practice in craft-based media—especially ceramics and textiles—addresses themes of diaspora, family history, and the politics of how we occupy spaces. Joseph is particularly interested in connecting people through collective memory and shared experiences.

Joseph earned an MFA from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, an MA from Rhode Island School of Design and a BA from New York University. Her work has been shown at NADA Miami (Florida; 2021), Fleisher Art Memorial (Philadelphia, PA; 2019), and Hannah Traore Gallery (New York, NY; 2022), among others. Joseph has participated in residencies including at the Archie Bray Foundation (Helena, MT; 2022) and The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts (New York, NY; 2021).

During her residency, Joseph will create ceramic inlay paintings that are an interpretation of the visual languages she uses in felt and paper. She will particularly focus on the technical side of constructing work from varied clay bodies and work to expand the size of these clay paintings. In addition to translating her visual language into clay, Joseph will also create felt/ceramic hybrid works. Joseph will also continue a project based on airplane windows and their connection to travel and its significance especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and to diaspora communities.

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