Melissa Pressler

What Drew Me to Teach at East End Arts:

I was a former student at East End Arts and have been thinking of ways to connect with the community and give back to my hometown. My friend told me that the Arts Council was looking for new instructors to offer classes. It felt like the perfect opportunity!

My Expertise:

Bio Art, Painting, Jewelry making, Dance

My Inspiration:

Pipilotti Rist, Kiki Smith, Suzanne Anker, Tessa Farmer, Hilma Af Klint, Alex and Allyson Grey

My Degrees:

I have earned my Bachelors in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City

My Awards, Exhibitions & Honors:

Earned the Chairmans Merit Award to attend the School of Visual Arts. Participated in the 2017 Chashama Gala. Recipient of a grant from New York Counsel of the Arts and Curated an art show titled “Colony Collapse” in 2017 supported by Chashama. Created art installations at Elements Music and Arts Festivals in 2017 and 2018 with Collective Bae – featured in Vogue and Forbes. Published in the SVA 20/20 Catalogue in 2020. Featured in a documentary about Brood X Cicadas in the summer of 2021 during the hatching of the Brood X Cicadas in North America.

Years Teaching:

1 to 5

Why I Love Teaching:

Connecting with others through creativity is super important to me! There is something really special about mentoring other young artists, teaching them skills that they will carry through life, and showing them that anyone can be an artist and make their visions into a reality!

My Other Interests:

I love going on hikes with my dog, spending time at the beach and picking up litter with friends, flow arts dancing, and I love to cook too!