About the artist
Melissa Preston Jessell is a visual artist, working with photo, video, digital collage, graphic design, and writing. She received her MFA in Photography and Related Media from The New School Parsons School of Design. She has a background in film, television, and theater production, having graduated from the University of Miami, with a BS in Communication and a BA in Theater Arts. Originally from Richmond, VA, Melissa spent 6 years living and working in Los Angeles in television, film, and photography. Residing in the Washington, DC area, she shows her artwork regularly in galleries such as Latela Curatorial and as a member of the Torpedo Factory. She also serves as an energy worker, ICF accredited coach, and psychedelic plant medicine integration guide, all of which inform her work as an artist.
Jessell’s artwork is driven by her interest in consciousness and the altered states of consciousness that occasion mystical or spiritual experiences. With a keen interest in the science that helps describe our reality, she seeks to explore the divine through sacred geometry, fractals, and dendritic patterns as they present themselves in our material world. Using photography, videography, and digital collage, Jessell strives to make work that explores the macro in the micro—revealing what lies just beyond our reality, unveiling uncanny, hidden worlds, and inducing states of calm for the viewer, as well as within herself.
Jessell’s work conjures otherworldly atmospheres or hydrospheres, flowing energies that invite the viewer to dive, fly, and float into the immersive lightness associated with being present. These atmospheric images are an invitation into a meditative and transcendent experience, which can be accessed upon deep engagement. Her work presents itself as an antidote to the perceived chaotic state of the world, by aiding in shifting our perspectives, changing our minds - guiding metanoia - and revealing the universal consciousness of awareness.
CV
Melissa Preston Jessell
804-502-5271, MelissaPrestonJessell@gmail.com
Exhibitions
Coming Into Presence: The Return @ Wild Geese Gallery, NYC, June-July 2023
Coming Into Presence: Season of Love @ Wild Geese Gallery, NYC, 2022-2023
SHEDC, SHOP MADE DC @ La Cosecha, Washington, DC, 2022
Window Display at Tysons Corner Shopping Center, Tysons Corner, VA, 2021
Holiday Show @ The Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA, 2020-2021
Women in the Arts, Room 2~ Artist as Mother :: Artist Mothers, Latela Curatorial, Washington, DC and ARTSY, Worldwide 2020
New Juried Artist Exhibition, Torpedo Factory Artist Association @ Mosaic, Fairfax, VA, 2020
Covid-19 Art Fair, Latela Curatorial, Washington, DC 2020
-SPHERES, Industrious, Bethesda, MD, 2020
SHEDC, Shop Made in DC, Washington, DC, 2020
Spiritual Wanderlust, Latela Curatorial Art Gallery, Washington, DC 2019
Untitled solo show, Tryst DC, Washington, DC, 2019
1460 WALLMOUNTABLES 2016, District of Columbia Arts Center, Washington, DC, 2016
Push / Pull, Arnold and Sheila Aronson Gallery, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY, 2015
Talking Culture, Auckland Festival of Photography, Auckland, New Zealand, 2015
hyphen, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, PA, 2015
Photoville Photo Festival, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, NY, 2014
Future Projections, Auckland Festival of Photography, Auckland, New Zealand, 2014
Nine Five One - Collaborative Exchange, Memphis, TN, 2014
Made in China, The Firehouse Space, Brooklyn, NY, 2014
Photoville Photo Festival, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, NY, 2013
Pingyao International Photo Festival, Pingyao, China, 2013
Parsons The New School of Design, Open Studios, 7 between 2013 - 2015
Awards, Honors, & Publications
Member of the Torpedo Factory Artists Association, 2020
Excellent Emerging Photography Award - Pingyao International Photography Festival, China, 2013
Melissa Preston Jessell, Capturing Stillness in the Chaos, Art of the Journey, 9/19/2016
The Beauty of Inescapable Change:: Contributions from Melissa Preston, Heart Inspiration, Princella Talley, 2016
Fall & Winter Alumni Spotlight Artist: Photographer Melissa Preston, Collegiate School, Richmond, VA, 2014-15
The Lucie Foundation Fresh Look - Selected Juried Portfolio Review, 2012
The Accolade Honorable Mention: Quantum Entertainment, Starving Artists, Director of Photography, Miami, FL, 2007
A-Peeling Relationship, Collaborative, Miami 12 hour Film Race, 3rd Runner Up, Miami, FL, 2007
Related Work (Highlighted Experience)
Collaborating artist & NY Co-director, Collaborative Exchange, Memphis, TN, 2014
Co-Producer, Authorship in The Digital Age with Lev Manovich, Richard Chused, Jamie Wilkinson, & David Senior, Panel, New York, NY, 2014
Art Teacher for Art Brains after school program, Bethesda, MD, 2017
Assistant Art Teacher for Art Brains after school program, Washington, DC, 2016
Teaching Artist for Paint Nite, LLC, Washington, DC 2015-2016
Artist Assistant to Jim Ramer, Director of Parsons MFA Photography Program, 2014 - 2015
Artist Assistant to Neil Goldberg, New York, NY 2014
Portrait Photographer for A Morning for You fundraising events, Falls Church, VA, 2016
Owner, Freelance Photographer, and image consultant at MPresPhotos, LLC, 2016 - 2017
Technical Assistant, Parsons The New School of Design, Equipment Resource Center, New York, NY, 2014-2015
Founder & Photographer, Melissa Preston Photography, LLC., Los Angeles and New York, 2009 - 2014
Film and TV Production (Highlighted Experience)
America’s Funniest Home Videos, Production Coordinator, Los Angeles, 2012 - 2013
Emmy-Winning Documentary, Growing up Strong: Girls on The Run, Heartfelt Productions, 2nd Camera Videographer, Chicago, IL, 2013
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Script Coordinator (Promoted), Los Angeles, 2007 - 2012
Broken Lizard’s The Slammin’ Salmon, Production Assistant, Los Angeles, 2007/2008
New Line Cinema’s Pride and Glory, Office Production Assistant, Los Angeles, 2007
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Super Bowl Special, Miami, 2007
QuantUM Entertainment Shorts, Director of Photography, Miami, 2007
QuantUM Entertainment Shorts, Director, Miami, 2006
Education
Parsons The New School of Design - MFA in Photography, 2015
University of Miami - Bachelor of Science in Communications - focus in Film, Bachelor of the Arts in Theater Arts, 2007
UCLA Extension Program - Photography Courses with Scott Stulberg & George Simian, 2009/2013
Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU), Prague, 2005