Painting is a practice of deep concentration and focus. It is a joyful meditation for me. Nature is a lyrical combination of colors and exquisite patterns. I try to play into that dynamic to create movement within a painting. My paintings are thick and lush with layers of paint applied one over another. The technique resembles woodcut reduction printmaking as much as traditional oil painting. The images are built up using shapes of color to define the motif through the negative space.I was trained with an abstract expressionist sensibility and consider my paintings to be abstracts because they are more about paint, color, shape, and application than about subject or motif.
- Melissa Yarbrough
Exhibitions
2015
Small Works Show, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco
2014
Streets of San Francisco, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco
Recent Arrivals, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco
2013
Solo Show—Expressions of Color and Texture, Solo Show, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco
Plein Air, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco
Small Gems, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco
Spring Show, Artist's Exchange, San Francisco
2012
Sonoma Landscapes, Vin Antico, San Rafael
Selected Works, Artist's Exchange, San Francisco
1999-2011
Artspan Open Studios and Artspan Annual Group Exhibition
2005
Solo Show--Tulips, Platanos Cocina Latina, San Francisco
Melt 2005, The Art Explosion, San Francisco
Artspan Art Auction, California Modern, San Francisco
2004
Hearts in San Francisco, Castro & Market Streets
Melt 2004, The Art Explosion, San Francisco
2003
Alisa Hotel, San Francisco
Solo Show--Roses, Cafe Que Tal, San Francisco
Solo Show--Roses, Platanos Cocina Latina, San Francisco
Solo Show--Spring Forward, Loft Gallery, San Francisco
Artspan Art Auction, The Canvas Gallery, San Francisco
2002
Solo Show--Flower Series, EOS Restaurant, San Francisco CA
Artspan Art Auction, The Canvas Gallery, San Francisco CA
2001
Candies and Fruit Que Tal Cafe, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA
2000
Tails of the City Microsoft SF Metreon Center, San Francisco CA
Solo Show--Still Life with Salt Water Taffy 101 Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA
1999
Spring Forward, Fall Back Gap Corporation Headquarters Gallery, San Francisco CA
Solo Show--Narrative Paintings Cowboys and Angels, San Francisco CA
Solo Show--Figurative Paintings 2223 Restaurant, San Francisco
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA
1998
Summer Salon Lawrence Hultberg Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA
1997
Clothed in Memory Joseph Chowning Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA
1996
Solo Show--Windmills Dava Dava Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA
1995
Solo Show--Domestic Icons Wren and Culpeper Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA
1994
Small Works Arts Benicia Gallery Benicia CA
Standing Room Only Northlight, Gallery, Los Angeles CA
Countdown 2000 1078 Gallery Chico CA
Gallery 92 Coastal Arts Museum, Half Moon Bay CA
1993
Solo Show--Rooms and Patterns University YWCA Gallery, Berkeley CA
Showcase 93 Beaverton Arts Council, Beaverton OR
Earth Water Sky Second Story Studios, Seattle WA
1992
Solo Show--Selected Monotypes Beaverton Arts Council, Beaverton OR
1991
Solo Show--Bernal Hill (not so)Secret (site specific installation) San Francisco CA
Solo Show--Yosemite Garden (site specific installation) Groveland CA
1987
Grass Frame (site specific installation) collaboration with artist Charles Fadel
Solo Show--Senior Exhibition Kate Lewis Gallery Greenville NC
Background
Melissa Yarbrough attended The School of Art at East Carolina University, where she received a BFA in Painting. She lives and works in San Francisco.
Features and Publications
Featured Artist at iTheo.com, August 2000
In-Sites Magazine, Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center monthly, January 1999
Artweek Clothed in Memory at Joseph Chowning Gallery, by Alicia Miller, October 1997
Metropolitan Clothed in Memory at Joseph Chowning Gallery, September 1997
Teaching Experience
2000
de Young Museum Artist Studio. An Artist’s workshop at the de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. This workshop is designed to let the public observe and discuss art with the artist in a workshop environment.
1997-2000
Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center in San Francisco, life drawing workshop. I taught students how draw the human figure using a live model.
1994-1995
California Crafts Museum in San Francisco, a public outreach and exhibition guide. I created a variety of programs to familiarize the public with craft as art.