Photo by Dave Cooper
Melanie Biehle is an abstract painter inspired by the emotion and architecture of place.
Born in Louisiana and now based in the Pacific Northwest, Melanie paints from her Seattle studio and lives just outside the city with her husband, son, and pets. Her work is shaped by a lifelong creative path that spans writing, photography, and film marketing — mediums that honed her intuitive sense of composition and atmosphere.
Though she came to painting later in life, her artistic practice reflects years of visual curiosity and emotional sensitivity. She holds a master’s degree in psychology and studied abstract painting and composition at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle. Influenced by the abstract expressionist tradition, her inspirations include Richard Diebenkorn, Lee Krasner, and Joan Mitchell.
Whether inspired by the quiet rhythms of coastal landscapes or the vibrant energy of new destinations, Melanie’s paintings evoke a connection to the beauty of the world, offering a sense of groundedness and possibility.
Artist’s Statement
My work is an exploration of the emotional qualities that travel awakens — spaciousness, curiosity, ease, and inspiration.
I create abstract interpretations of place. Rather than depict specific destinations, I blend memory, architecture, nature, and aerial views into layered form, texture, and movement.
Working in oil or acrylic, I build tactile surfaces that recall the sensory details of exploration: walking barefoot on warm sand, studying the edges of a weathered stone, or watching sunlight shift across water. I often use found natural elements — like broken shells or textured rocks — to distress the surface, grounding the work in the landscapes that inspire it.
My paintings move between two distinct visual languages: one fluid and atmospheric, the other more geometric and composed. Once seen as opposites, I now embrace them as reflections of the rhythm of travel — the spontaneous and the intentional, the expansive and the refined.
The ocean is my greatest source of calm and creative energy. Having lived on two distinct coastlines brings depth to my work. Whether shaped by the lush coastal textures of the Pacific Northwest, the warm desert tones of Southern California, or the fresh energy of my travels, my paintings express a quiet connection to place —inviting stillness, reflection, and a sense of wonder.
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