
ABOUT ME
Melanie Calis (35) is an Amsterdam-based artist. Her paintings are visual explorations of the unseen; the emotions, human connections, and inner landscapes that shape who we are. In her artwork - just as in daily life - Melanie is captivated by what lies beneath the surface. Whether it be the quiet tensions we carry, moments of genuine encounter, or the universal desire to be seen and understood.
In terms of style, Melanie works with flowing gradients and layered textures, allowing softness and rawness to exist side by side. This creates a kind of visual tension that mirrors the complexity of being a human. In her artworks, the body serves as a means to portray the interactions between figures. The way arms embrace, hands search for each other and bodies lean toward one another. Melanie's work is an honoring to the space between people, where we can dance, feel discomfort, and expose ourselves.
Melanie is currently studying at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam.
