Studio Mele
Joseph Mele lives and works in his Benicia Arsenal studio overlooking the shipping lanes of the Carquinez Strait. With a long list of collectors and exhibits, Mele is an active member of the arts community in Benicia and the greater Bay Area, now represented at GearBox Gallery in Oakland, CA.
SELECTED SOLO and SMALL GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017 The Light and Darkness of Being: Joseph Mele & Carol Dalton,
GearBox Gallery, Oakland CA
2016 Modus Operandi: Work by Joseph Mele, GearBox Gallery, Oakland CA
2015 Blank Slate: Joseph Mele in the Inner Room, GearBox Gallery, Oakland CA
2015 Doppelgängers: Joseph Mele and TaVee McAllister Lee, GearBox Gallery, Oakland CA
2015 Common Threads III: Alejandro Naranjo, Mark Fox and Joseph Mele, Red Dot Gallery, 2015 Sacramento CA
2014 Unfinished Man: Robert Ray, Joseph Mele and Lillian Almeida, Gallery 621, Benicia CA
2013 Altitudinous: New Work by Joseph Mele, Gallery 621, Benicia CA
2013 The Changing Tides of Artists, Georgiana Gallery, Walnut Grove CA
2012 From the Arsenal and Beyond, Gallery 621, Benicia CA
2012 Rhetoric: Joseph and Santino, Jordan Gallery, Benicia CA
2012 Don Reich, Lisa Neil and Joseph Mele, Red Dot Gallery, Sacramento CA
2012 Extra Sensory Perception Series at the Spinetta Family Law Center, Martinez, CA
2010 New Paintings, The Rellik Tavern, Benicia CA
2010 Fighting The Pig, Two Person Show, Firehouse North Gallery, Berkeley CA
2008 New Work, Olson Gallery, Benicia CA
2007 Solo Mio, Vallejo Artists’ Guild, Vallejo CA
2006 Energy and Inspiration, Oz Salon and Gallery, Benicia CA
2003 Homosapien, Three Person Show, Epperson Gallery, Crockett CA
2002 Pipsqueak, Three Person Show, North Light Gallery, Napa CA
2001 Naked as an Apple, Benicia Public Library Art Gallery, Benicia CA
2001 Figures in (e)motion, Fetterly Gallery, Vallejo CA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016 Order + Chaos, Catherine Clark juror, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
2015 Gems III, Ruth Santee juror, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
2015 Abstract: A Change in Perception, Red Dot Gallery, Sacramento CA
2015 Why Make Art: Twenty-five Benicia Artists Respond, co-curated by Hedi Desuyo and
Mark Eanes, Invitational Exhibit with publication, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
2015 Variations on Abstraction, curated by Robert Ray, Transmission Gallery, Oakland, CA
2015 Collage: Sessions and Studio Selections, Red Dot Gallery, Sacramento CA
2015 It’s All About Books: Book Arts Invitational at CoalShed Studios, Vallejo, CA
2015 Engage! An Opening, GearBox Gallery, Oakland, CA
2014 Little Things 14, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR
2014 Transformation, Gallery 621, Benicia, CA
2014 Micro Visions: Smaller Than Small, Red Dot Gallery, Sacramento CA
2014 Human Voice II: Art as Social Comment, Sacramento Temporary Contemporary
Gallery, Sacramento CA
2013 Gems II, Carol Dalton juror, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
2013 Coming Home, Solano Community College Fine Art Department, Fairfield, CA
2013 The Spirit of the Art, Georgiana Gallery, Walnut Grove, CA
2013 Fetish: A Quick Pop-up Show by Gallery Susan Alexander, San Francisco, CA
2013 Myths, Legends and Prophecies, the Loft Gallery, Sacramento CA
2013 Beyond Collage, Gallery 21Ten, Sacramento CA
2013 Hard Pressed: a printmaking showcase, RedDot Gallery, Sacramento CA
2013 Urban Visions II, Red Dot Gallery, Sacramento CA
2012 Bakers Dozen, The Quicksilver Mine Co., Forestville CA
2012 Human Voice: the human presence in art, Gallery 21Ten, Sacramento CA
2012 KVIE Art Auction, on-line auction, Sacramento CA
2011 Gems, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
2011 4 Artists 1 Space, Shirocos, Benicia, CA
2011 Summer Art Jam, Skinner Howard Contemporary Art Gallery, Sacramento CA
2011 Mele in the Alcove, Sacramento Temporary Contemporary Gallery, Sacramento CA
2010 KVIE Art Auction, on-air auction, Sacramento CA
2010 Small Works, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
2009 Introductions, Skinner Howard Contemporary Art Gallery, Sacramento CA
2009 Soupçon, Small Works, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
2008 Art of a Community, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
2007 Too Hot to Handle, The Main ARTery Gallery, Benicia, CA
2007 Black & White Only, Jurors John Ballou, Marc Pandone and Lauren Posner, Vallejo
2007 Artists’ Guild, Vallejo CA
2006 The Body: Human Figure as Subject, Juror Gary Stutler, Fetterly Gallery, Vallejo CA
2004 CA Works, CA State Fair, Sacramento CA
2004 Seeing Red, Diablo Valley College Art Gallery, Pleasant Hill CA
2003 Bound and Unbound–Printed Works, Diablo Valley College Art Gallery, Pleasant Hill CA
2003 Print Show, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia CA
PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS
Extra Sensory Perception Series at the Spinetta Family Law Center, Martinez, CA, since 2012
AWARDS
2006 Jurors’ Best of Show, Black & White Only Exhibition, Vallejo Artists’ Guild, CA
2004 Award of Excellence, CA State Fair, Sacramento CA
2003 Two Awards of Merit, CA State Fair, Sacramento CA
COMMERCIAL ART PROJECTS
2000 Mural for Maritime Academy, Vallejo CA
1999 Mural for Dillon Bread Company, Vallejo CA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2013 Nick Sestanovich, Benicia Herald, “Arts Benicia juried exhibit explores theme of order
2013 Arthur Comings, SF Art Scene Examiner, A Quick Pop-up in the City
2013 Keri Luiz, Benicia Herald, “Uplifting, eminent, tall — in a word, ‘Altitudinous’”
2013 DeWitt Cheng, Face book review:130922DeWittChengFacebook.pdf
2013 Jarrod R. Kohls, River News-Herald and Isleton Journal
”Joseph Mele: Spontaneity through a multitude of media”
2012 Keri Luiz, Benicia Herald, “Artists launch exercise in “Rhetoric”
2012 Adriene Rockwell, Benicia Magazine, “arts benicia: Open Studios 2012”
2012 Robert Ray, Gallery 2110 Catalogue, “Human Voice: the human presence in art”
2010 Richard Freedman, Vallejo Times-Herald, "Benicia's brush with artistic heaven at 2001 2010 Open Studios"
2009 News, Artweek Magazine, May 2009
2009 Kathryn Weller Renfrow, Inside Benicia, “Benicia Artists Welcome Hundreds of 2009 2009 Visitors into Their Working Studios”
2009 Robert Taylor, Contra Costa Sunday Times, The A-List, Critics Best Bets2009
2008 Robert Taylor, Contra Costa Sunday Times, The A-List, Benicia’s open for art
2007 Robert Taylor, Contra Costa Times, “Eclectic works on display at Benicia gallery”
2007 Inside Benicia, Kathryn Weller Renfrow, “A Brief History of Open Studios”
2007 S.N. Jacobson, Listen and Be Heard, “The Name is Mele”
2006 Sheila F. Johnson, Listen and Be Heard, “Diary of a 2006 Arty Award Winner”
2004 Nate Berg, Martinez News-Gazette, “The Many Faces of Red”
2003 Victoria Dalkey, The Sacramento Bee, “Mass Appeal: State Fair art competition has
2003 something for everybody”
2001 Heather Bremner, Benicia Herald, “Vulnerability, nostalgia the keys in BPL Gallery’s
2001 new exhibit”
2000 Richard Toronto, Benicia Herald, “Artist’s long journey into Benicia”
EDUCATION
1983-1993 Photography, School of Visual Arts, New York NY
1980-1984 Liberal Arts Studies, Hunter College, New York NY
1978-1978 Photography and Design, New School for Social Research, NewYork NY
Complete C.V. upon request
© 1997 - 2016 Joseph Mele - All Rights Reserved.
All images remain the property of the artist and may not be used without written permission.
