Melan Allen is a visual artist living and working in Oakland, California. Mostly self-trained, her work explores the relationship between capitalism, consumption, and joy.  Defiantly playful, tactically exaggerated, and absolutely not to be missed (sound on), her social media presence complements and elevates her studio work. Melan’s philosophy is “We eat with our eyes” and that applies to art too. Her paintings are celebrations of food and color: vivid, playful, and joyous. The subjects are honest and imperfect, with crumbs and smears and bites. Her work evokes pages from your grandma’s-stained cookbooks or a deep-down food memory, with a style that merges old-school cool and modern still lives.

Melan is part of an exhibit that also features food photographer Lisa Keenan and ceramicist Marienne Chapman in January and February of 2023.

Join us for the launch of the exhibit on Saturday, January 14th 4-7pm, or stop into the gallery on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays 11am – 4pm through the end of February.