We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melanie Berardicelli a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Melanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve known in my heart I’ve wanted to be an artist since I was just a young teenager. In the seventh grade I had a tough time making friends and had nobody to chat with during lunch. My mother had gifted me a tiny, 3.5”x 5” Strathmore sketchbook so I’d have something to do during my lunch period. Believe it or not, I got in trouble for this; my middle school had a rule that no books, papers, or pens were permitted in the lunchroom. This rule was enforced to prevent students from finishing (or copying) homework at the last minute before class. The vice principal escorted me to her office, where I had to defend my case to both her and the principal- “I’m just drawing!” The next day they had given me their formal approval, and my social life improved; I had just stood up to “the man,” and everyone was eager to read the new comics I’d make daily. This eventually led to me taking drawing a bit more seriously; I was determined to improve my skills, to make expressions more convincing, poses more fluid, and details more accurate. I loved it so much that I drew every single day; I have a mountain of old sketchbooks in my home! I knew at that point it was the only thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
As for art education, this path was initially a little less clear. I first began assistant teaching in general at the age of sixteen; I needed community service hours to fulfill my obligations for the National Honor Society, so I’d walk a short distance from my high school to my old elementary school and help my first grade teacher most afternoons from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. I was helping the first graders sound out basic words and complete their end-of-the-day “center station” work; I absolutely loved it! This should have been a big clue for me as to where my future career was heading, but at the time I had no intention of becoming an art educator, as I was erroneously worried that becoming an educator would mean sacrificing being a practicing artist.
As life would have it, at nineteen I first became an assistant teacher at USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts. I was incredibly nervous; “Will I be a good art teacher? Can I do this?” Afterall, I was teaching graduating high school students to create their AP and college application art portfolios; they were only one year younger than me! On that first day I found that teaching came naturally to me, and I felt a sense of fulfillment, like I was finally living my life’s purpose. From that moment on I knew I’d want to continue teaching and helping others through art.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an artist and art professor. I have been a fine arts educator for a decade, having taught figure drawing and painting at USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing arts, and K-8 art and art history at Ivy League School in Smithtown. I am currently faculty at the New York Academy of Art, teaching drawing, painting, sculpture, and anatomy through the Master of Fine Arts Program, Certificate of Fine Arts Program, Continuing Education Program, and Summer Undergraduate Residency Program. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Drawing and Painting at SUNY New Paltz in 2017, and my Master of Fine Arts Degree in Painting at the New York Academy of Art in 2021. Following the conclusion of my graduate studies, I was granted the 2021 SURP Teaching Award, which paved the way for me eventually becoming a Master of Fine Arts professor. That same summer following my graduation I had also began working as a studio assistant for the late Audrey Flack. From 2021-2023 I helped Audrey create the works for her final Post-Pop Baroque Series that debuted at Hollis Taggart in Spring 2024, serving as her “hands” to paint her portrait as well as the portraits of influential historical and religious figures.

I currently have an art studio in DUMBO, filled with my personal artwork studying the Roman Martyr Catacomb Saints. I first became drawn to the rich, glittering images of these skeletal saints following my brother’s passing in 2020. After reading Paul Koudounaris’ Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs, I found myself completely captivated with the martyrs; there lied the answers to my never-ending grief and a way to honor the dead. I admired the tireless dedication of the nuns who clothed and bejeweled the skeletal remains of Christian martyrs from 100 AD with their own rings and gems. Combining my love of anatomy and sculpture with the ornate, I hand-tailor, embroider, and bead costumes to adorn my own resin-cast skeletal écorchés to recreate twenty-four-inch Roman Martyr Catacomb Saints. Through both painting and sewing on canvas, I re-imagine what these saints looked like during their lifetimes, giving them back their identities and re-christening them after the heroic people that I have come to know in my life. If you are curious to see my religious works in person, I’ll be opening my studio doors to the public for the Brooklyn Art Council’s DUMBO Open Studios event on April 26th and 27th; all are welcome to stop by and say hi!

I believe what sets me apart from other artists is my work ethic and dedication to my craft. I love good, hard work and value a job well done. I’m no stranger to sacrificing time and sleep to ensure that everything I create- whether it is a lesson plan, demonstration, personal painting, or sculpture- is completed to the utmost perfection. I often balance rigorous technique studies and discipline with more creative, personal expression; in my humble opinion, the best work incorporates both! I’m most proud of my growth, both as an artist and arts educator. I achieved these goals I set for myself at a relatively young age; I first became an art teaching assistant at nineteen, a K-8 private school art teacher at twenty-two, and a Master of Fine Arts professor at twenty-eight. Of course, I’m also incredibly proud of my students’ hard work! While I maintain a fun and creative classroom environment, I am also thorough in my anatomy, art history, and technique lectures. Even though the topics we cover in class aren’t easy by any means necessary, my students always rise to the challenge and succeed!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As I always say, the most rewarding part of what I do is helping others and enacting positive change. In my personal work, I don’t shy away from topics of grief, death, and the promise of Heaven. The feeling of seeing my work resonate with the viewer and providing them with hope as they navigate through their own grief or heartache is indescribable; you are not alone, and there is light at the end of the tunnel! As I’ve come to learn, my pain is not meant for me, but for the purpose of healing others.
In art education, the most rewarding aspect is seeing my students have the “aha!” moment- the instant where it all finally clicks, and they find their personal voice amidst rigorous study. Many students come to my classes having never painted or sculpted before; once completing my class, I’ve seen them grow to become successful artists, exhibiting their artwork in Chelsea galleries and winning art competitions. If I can inspire others and give them the confidence and courage to pursue their dreams, then I’ll have considered my time well spent.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My personal mission is to encourage a love of learning in others, and to never stop growing and learning myself. In my heart, I will always be a student; there’s always something new to discover in clay, or in the way muscles and veins and bones interact and flow. In fact, I’ll often dedicate afternoons to studying from the academy’s personal specimen collection. Some of my favorite studies I’ve created have been sculpted directly from real vertebrae, bird skulls, and a replica human heart- one day I hope to create my very own Wunderkammer!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.berardicelliart.com
• Instagram: @melanieb_art

Image Credits

Photographs by Melanie Berardicelli of her personal paintings.