Pine Series
This series of paintings is about capturing movement.  The viewer can experience the movement in the pine trees as their eyes pass over the many branches on these long vertical paintings.  This movement simulates the movement wind has on the branches of pine trees - a bouncy and swaying movement.

"I spent a lot of time in the pine forest of Black River Falls State Park in Wisconsin and other various campgrounds throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota as a child.  Both sides of my  family are avid campers and outdoors people.  I continue to love to be among the trees any chance I can - there is a connection - a visceral effect that I experience when I'm among the trees, especially in pine forests."
-Melissa

Images coming soon.

Measuring Up Collection
The measuring up collection is a series of artworks that explore various aspects of measuring up.  What started as a mixed media painting about body image (Self Image), has expanded to include sculpture and other paintings that explore other themes such as imposter syndrome and the pressures of societal norms and other scenarios that we can relate to where we compare ourselves to others.  The collection serves as a reminder that we should measure our own growth, and not measure ourselves comparative to others. 

Melissa Critchley is a dual citizen of both the US and Luxembourg.   She was born and grew up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and has lived in the Twin Cities for over 25 years.  Melissa lives with several disabilities, including MacTel (Macular Telangiectasia), which impacts her vision.  Pinching in her vision makes it impossible for Melissa to see a straight line.  She also experiences double vision, blind spots, and disappearing letters and numbers when reading due to the MacTel.  

Despite her disability, Melissa has made art a priority in her life.  She has served on several art committees at the University of Minnesota, including helping to found Changing Landscapes (now called Art for All), and the MIDB Building Art Committee, which was responsible for curating a large body of artwork displayed throughout the building.  She also served on the St. Paul Art Collective's Board of Directors from 2022-2023, and as the art event planner at F-O-K Studios from 2021-2023.  

Melissa holds bachelor's degrees from the University of Minnesota in Art and Art History, and an interdisciplinary master's degree with a focus of stress management and minors in Complementary Healing Therapies and Prevention Science.  She also graduated summa cum laude from Eastern Gateway Community College with an AAB in Business Management and an emphasis in Marketing.  

Melissa's studio, Radical Reality, is located in the F-O-K Studios building on Harriet Island in the West Side neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota, near the Mississippi River.  Melissa is also a proud resident of the West Side for almost a decade.

Her main body of work is abstract or abstract representationalism and completed using acrylics and fluid techniques.  She explores themes such as shamanism, spirituality, technology, social justice, race, struggles, and duality.  You can follow Melissa and her studio, Radical Reality, on social media or visit her studio.