Art of Melush is a world influenced brand nestled in the Bronx, New York City. A creative house developed by Australian born artist Melinda McCarthy, focusing on art, design, and production. Finely crafted art works. Design for fabrics, fashion, goods and accessories. Production of illustrated books, animation, short-film, and music.
Here on the site, you can buy pieces of her orignal artwork, see any upcoming projects and news, as well as find links to printed versions, books and more.
Who is “Melush” ?
Artist Melinda McCarthy
Known as ‘Melush’ has been an exhibiting artist for over 30 years, her award winning paintings are held in private collections worldwide. Whilst best known for her paintings, this is but one of many mediums in which she works. Others include illustration, photography, animation and design just to name a few.
She has also published a number of books, with her Liheg and the Lemon Tree trilogy (a silent graphic novel), Journey of the Stone based on the exhibition of the same name, and Melush – Drawing light from the Dark, an art book cataloging her art over the last 20 years and following her journey of creation.
Studying printmaking at college, she then went on to painting, photography, short film, animation and music. Always searching for ways to express her creativity, and hone her skills in many facets.
She also plays double bass and an ancient instrument, the “Koboz” learning the music and culture from musicians and artisans across Hungary, Transylvania, and Moldavia.
She sees these travels and exchanges as her true education and life’s path. Apart from her visual art, this adds to her creative expression and made her somewhat of a culture bearer as she plays the traditional music in various bands. However, being a creative means that she is now composing her own music using these traditional instruments,
Follow our journal to keep up to date with everything creative at Art of Melush.
Artist C.V.
Awards/Grants
- CRNY (Creatives Rebuild New York) – Guaranteed Income Grant awardee 2022 – 2023
- City Artist Corps – Grant awardee New York City 2021
- Anglo-Italian Academy of Art Prize – 3rd prize Chianciano Biennale 2013
- Greenpoint Gallery Small Works Holiday Salon – 1st prize winner 2012
- Best of Biennale, Chianciano 2009 – amongst a select group chosen from the Chianciano Biennale awarded a London show.
Professional Work
2021-PRESENT – Production Editor – Skyhorse Publishing New York, NY
2007 – PRESENT – Art of Melush – (own art business now officially trademarked in USA and proudly a member of Bronx Chamber of Commerce).
1996-1999 – RedPlanet community art screen-printing studio (studio assistant)
Visual Arts
Selected Exhibitions / Projects
- FreeForm! – Live spontaneous art event,Exhibiting painting, as well as performing musically and theatrically – Prime Produce 2024
- Journey of the Stone– solo show made possible by Artist Corps Grants at On the Fringe NYC, TriBeCa, October 2021
- Drawing Light from the Dark – solo show – Hungarian House of New York March – Aug (also co-ordinating the organization of an event with band Török Testvérek visiting from Hungary to play at the exhibit closing)
- Art of Melush – Drawing Light from the Dark – solo show and book launch On the Fringe NYC, TriBeCa, NY 2023
- Anchoreta – solo show – Umbrella Arts Gallery, LES, New York, 2015
- Biennale of Chianciano Terme – Museo D’Arte di Chianciano, Chianciano Terme, Italy September, 2009 & 2013
- Distraction – Solo Show, Sapphire Lounge, New York 2013
- Solo Retrospective – Greenpoint Gallery, New York, 2013
- Greenpoint Gallery Small Works Holiday Salon –1st Prize winner- Group show & prize, Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, 2012
- Izmir Bienal – Art Center, Izmir, Turkey May 4 – 11, 2011
- Gothic Belgravia -Eaton Terrace Gallery, Belgravia London, UK — Group exhibition of Paintings with gothic theme 2008
- Into the Woods– Queens Wood Cafe, Muswell Hill London, UK — Solo exhibition of paintings and illustrations based in fairy tale and folk-lore 2008
- Hidden exhibition – Momma Cherri’s, solo show for Brighton Fringe Festival, Brighton U.K., 2007
- Rhythm of Life Ancient and Abstract group exhibition – Vanguard gallery, Northcote, Melbourne, August 2006
- Regölés solo exhibition- The Fitzroy Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne, May, 2006
- Entertaining Countess Dracula an installation on the infamous Countess Báthory-Mayfield’s Bar, Fitzroy,Melbourne (presented on foyer of film screening of film with same name)
- Agitate, working with RedPlanet and the Guerrilla Girls- Melbourne Town Hall. 1999
“Voice”, young women’s project -Melbourne Fringe Festival 1998
Photography, short film and live performance.- “The Bridge (construction in process VI)” international art project (as part of ‘PileOn” organized by artist David Hugh Thomas) project included all art disciplines, with artists from different nations collaborating, Melbourne, March 1998
Musical Performances
Holdvilag – playing Koboz. Moldvai/ Csango/ Hungarian folk music 2017- current
Gigs / live performances:
- Playing for tanchaz and community events at the Hungarian House of New York, Hungarian Market New Jersey, Hungarian Festival New Jersey, and Queens Night Market, and Golden Festival in Brooklyn
Bardboz – Koboz, singing 2016- current
(evolving project band, consisting of solo compositions, with invited guest musicians for various performances or tracks. Creating music for own animations and live performances).
Gigs / live performances:
- Medieval Festival, Fort Tryon, NY – in artist booth long with art work, and on stage & as wandering performers 2016, 2017, 2022
Szikra – playing Koboz. Moldvai/ Csango music folk music 2016 – current
Gigs / live performances:
- Golden Festival, Brooklyn, NY
- World Village Music and Dance Camp, Camp Louise, Cascade, MD
- Balkan Chestnut Festival, Wyoming Farm, Clinton, MD
- Cultural day at the Hungarian consulate,DC
Eletfa – Double bass & Koboz – Hungarian and Transylvanian folk music 2015 – 2019
Fenyes Banda – Double bass – Hungarian and Transylvanian folk music 2015 – 2018
(Bands playing separately and together and interchange musicians. Playing on Bass and Koboz).
Gigs / live performances:
- Dance music for various “tanchaz” (traditional Hungarian dance parties) at the Hungarian House of NY (Upper East Side NY), and the Hungarian American Athletic Club New Brunswick,
- Hungarian Festival of New Brunswick
- Hungarian Heritage Day in BostonPalinka Festival Linden New Jersey
- Hungarian Festival of Connecticut
Palinka – Double Bass – Transylvania and Hungarian music 2008 – 2009
Based in London. Gigs / live performances:
- Dance music for various “tanchaz” (traditional Hungarian dance parties) for the Transylvanian community at Szent Istvan Haz, London
- Performances in various bars around London and private parties
- Performance in wine cellar in Tokaj Hungary
Vardos – Double Bass – Hungarian & Eastern European folk music 2003 – 2004
Based in Australia. Gigs / live performances:
- Toured around Australia to various folk and world music festivals (at some festivals also doing workshops and short plays for children).
- Various gigs at bars, corporate and private functions and parties.
- Performing a live soundtrack to screenings of silent film Entertaining Countess Dracula.
- Tour of New Zealand to festivals, bars and private functions.
- Cabaret style shows at the Famous Spiegeltent in both Melbourne Australia, and Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Festival.
- Edinburgh Festival Main Stage, Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Cristal Palace at Edinburgh Festival.
Publications
- Liheg and the Lemon Tree the Trilogy
- Melush Drawing Light from the Dark
- Journey of the Stone
