Creative Experience & Artistic Recognition
Melissa Crosson
I’m a visual artist and designer with a passion for storytelling through texture, color, and form. Over the past decade, I’ve had the honor of showcasing my work in galleries, museums, and community art spaces across North Carolina. Every exhibition, collaboration, and creative project reflects my deep love for the process and the people it connects me to.
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- May 2025: Guest Judge: Full Circle Arts Open Art Competition
- January 2025: Artwork featured on utility box in Newton, North Carolin
- September 2024: Presented a five-piece collection of upcycled designs at New York Fashion Week
- March 2024: Commissioned to create a public sculpture for Charlotte SHOUT Festival 2024
- October 2020 – August 2023: President of Foothills Painters
- 2022 – Present: Presented multiple unique collections at various Charlotte Seen fashion shows
- December 2023: Commissioned to create a holiday window display for Girl Tribe in Southpark, Charlotte NC.
- April 2023: Awarded ‘Best Upclcyed Designer’ at Charlotte Seen Earth Day fashion show.
- ArtPop Street Gallery Class of 2022 – Work featured on multiple billboards and in prominent public places across Charlotte, NC.
- Author and illustrator of two children’s books: Musical Instruments A-Z (self-published in 2022), Animals A-Z (set to be published in 2025)
- 1st Place – Full Circle Arts ‘Colors of Autumn’ Contest (2023)
- ‘Best Upcycled Fashion Collection’ – Charlotte Seen Earth Day Fashion Show (2023)
- ‘Best in Show’ Tosco Music Festival Beatles Art Competition (2022)
Unique Custom Threads | Fashion Designer | 2022 – Present
- Conceive, design, and develop unique, one-of-a-kind garments celebrating individuality.
- Working primarily with upcycled materials to limit the impact of my work on the environment.
- Collaborating with event organizers, models, photographers and other industry professionals to present my work and grow my brand.
Nomadic Artist ┃Independent Artist ┃(2006 – Present )
- Established a sole proprietorship for the purpose of selling products and services as an artist.
- Successfully developed multiple eCommerce channels to generate sales.
- Contracted for multiple commissioned pieces and artistic projects.
Work is currently displayed in multiple galleries and commercial establishments across North Carolina.
North Carolina Museum of Art ┃AIM Program Assistant┃ 2023 – 2024
- Coordinating art residences for middle school children in 7 different counties across Western North Carolina.
- Duties include finding and securing appropriate site locations and artists for each residency, serving as liaison between sites, artists, and the museum to ensure residencies run smoothly and provide valuable artistic nourishment for students.
- Work closely with the Director of Outreach and Audience Engagement to support the goals and missions of the program.
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with the sites and artists
- Support both the artists and sites prior and during residencies and continue to strengthen relationships between the two.
- Detailed files maintained in Google Suite, including budget spreadsheets, artist rosters, contact list updates, site visit scheduling and site logistics, museum research to collaborate into programs.
- Run surveys at the beginning and end of residencies
- Assist art teachers with teaching classes.
Charlotte Seen ┃Art Director ┃2023
- Curate, promote and manage the logistics of art pop-up events held in conjunction with Charlotte Fashion Week and other fashion events promoted by Charlotte Seen.
New Art School Teacher ┃ 2008 – 2010
- Maintained a safe, fun environment for students to explore their artistic talents.
- Art Teacher for children (primarily ages 4 – 19)
- Created daily lesson plans (craft oriented & technique of art mediums)
- May – June 2024: Featured Artist, Full Circle Arts
- January 2024 – Featured artist and designer, United Arts Council
- 2023 – Fanjoy Labrenz Studio
- 04/2023 – Foothills Painters and Poetry Exhibit, United Arts Council
- 06/2022 – Featured artist, Charlotte Art League
- 2022 – Coffey and Thompson Gallery
- 2015 – 2019 Four solo shows, Carolina Vines
- 2020 – Displaying in various shows, Full Circle Arts
- 2020 – Displaying in various shows, Trade Alley Arts
- 12/2015 – Turnip the Arts Gallery
- 2012–2016 – Godoy Gallery
- 2009–2015 – Hickory Museum of Art Store
- 2008–2013 – Hand and Heart Gallery