From Dr. Carrie Dawson, MSVU Dean of Arts and Sciences:
To the MSVU Art Gallery community,
I am thrilled to introduce Melanie Colosimo as the new Director of MSVU Art Gallery! Melanie comes to MSVUAG from NSCAD University, where she was the Director/Curator of the Anna Leonowens Gallery since 2014. At NSCAD, she oversaw the installation of over 1500 exhibitions and 250 public events, and broadened the Anna Leonowens’ program offerings by spearheading the community-centered Art Bar+Projects, the NSCAD Treaty Space Gallery, and developing an online certificate program in Gallery and Studio Management.
While Melanie has played a central role in shaping NSCAD’s creative vision, she also helped steer its academic mission and held the position of Interim Academic Dean from January 2023 until her departure.
Melanie notes, “I am thrilled to join the community at MSVU and the Gallery team. I have long admired the mandate and mission of MSVU Art Gallery and its legacy of championing women and diverse artists from the Atlantic. As a practicing artist whose work has been focused on the uniqueness of this region, I look forward to continuing this legacy!”
Melanie begins in her role at MSVUAG at the end of July – please stop by the Gallery to say “hello!” or she can be reached at melanie.colosimo@msvu.ca.
Sincerely,
Carrie
About Melanie Colosimo
Born and based in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Melanie Colosimo balances a career in arts administration and as an artist. For over 15 years she has been championing the Atlantic Canadian arts community from volunteering on boards, mentoring emerging artists, participating in juries, teaching and through her numerous roles and initiatives at NSCAD University. In the studio, she creates drawings, soft sculptures and installations that are shaped by the resourcefulness and legacy of labour in Atlantic Canada. These works address themes of collectivity, power and care.
Melanie received a BFA from Mount Allison University (2006) and an MFA from the University of Windsor (2011). Her work has been presented nationally and internationally in venues such as the Art Gallery of Windsor, the Bonavista Biennale, and the Guangdong Museum of Art and the He Xiangning Art Museum in China. She has participated in multiple artist residencies, including the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and the Vermont Studio Centre in Johnson, Vermont. She represented Atlantic Canada on the 2017 and 2020 Sobey Art Award long-list.
