Artist Feature: Melody Melamed
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Melody Melamed received her BFA from UCLA in 2008, with a concentration in Design and Media Arts, followed by an MFA in Photography, Video and Related Media in 2013, at SVA, New York City.
As a photographer, Melamed has dedicated her time to exploring the perception of gender identity, sexuality, the duality of masculinity vs. femininity, and what the body cannot tell about the expression of gender and gender identity.
Photography by Melody Melamed
Q: Share something you learned in creating these images
MM: I am constantly learning new things from creating images. It is how I connect with myself and my subconscious mind--
In many ways I have come to myself through my work. Even before I could put it down into words, my pictures allowed me to explore the depths of my inner worlds and through the years those depths have become clearer.
Every time I work on something new I have a new revelation that takes me deeper into understanding myself: my femininity, my masculinity, my sexuality, who I am and who I can become.
Q: What does being a feminist mean to you?
MM: Feminism to me is an all encompassing love to and for all of the people no matter age, race, gender, sexuality, etc.
Feminism to me is equal love, equal care, equal rights and equal treatment--not based on anything other than the mere fact that we are all a part of the same body and the same space.
Photography by Melody Melamed
