ARTIST BIO

With over 25+ years of experience as a practicing visual artist, Michael Bonnick, known by his artist name MELB, has established a significant presence in the art world. His captivating artwork has been collected by local and international art enthusiasts and showcased on esteemed programs such as Lifestyles of the Caribbean, aired on Comedy Central and VH1. Born in Manchester, United Kingdom, MELB spent his formative years in Jamaica, where his creative identity was shaped. His artistic journey took a transformative turn through an incredible student exchange opportunity to the prestigious Gerrit Rietveld Academy in the Netherlands in 1995. This experience, along with exposure to other European cities, expanded his creative vision beyond the boundaries of traditional art.

The culmination of these experiences led MELB to secure a Diploma in Sculpture and Printmaking from the renowned Edna Manley College in 1997, refining his creative outlook and triggering his desire to explore further. Driven by his passion for artistic exploration, MELB relocated to the United Kingdom, specifically London, where he spent 12 years pursuing his artistic development. During this time, he pursued an MA in Industrial Design at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (UAL) in 2006, and later obtained a qualification in Design Technology (QTS) in 2011. These experiences in the United Kingdom allowed MELB to merge his European influences with his Jamaican roots, shaping his current artistic direction.

MELB draws inspiration from a myriad of sources, including everyday objects, memories, architectural structures, music, people, film, and digital media. As a multi-disciplinary artist, he effortlessly moves between the 2D and 3D planes, infusing anthropomorphic and biomorphic lyrical forms into his artwork. Through his playful approach, he aims to disrupt existing realities, blurring the lines between archetypes and meaning, and challenging the relationships between image and reality.

PORTFOLIO

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