Marc Richard Mellon [NRA 2006]

 

First name: Marc ;
Middle name:
Richard ;
Last name:
Mellon ;

Member: Non-resident artist member ; 
Begin:
2006 ;
End:
n/a ;

 

Biography:

Marc Mellon is one of America’s foremost representational sculptors and medalists, well known for his portrait busts, commemorative statues, and works in bronze exploring the worlds of dance, sport, and family life. Mellon’s prodigious output of works reflects the passion he has for his chosen discipline. “My works reflects our interests as engaged human beings,” says the artist. “I sculpt what we are passionate about, and the resulting works are collected precisely because they reflect those passions.”

Schooled to pursue the sciences, Mellon left pre-medical studies for the study of history and philosophy, before discovering art as a vehicle to embrace all of his interests. From the start he enjoyed the challenge of conveying something of the inner life of his subjects…multi-faceted portrait busts, evocative dance and sports sculptures in balance and motion, and bronzes projecting the strength and confidence of contemporary women.

His works have been displayed from New York to Los Angeles to Tokyo and are in numerous corporate, private, and public collections worldwide. Mellon has been present to see his works honor the vision and achievements of leaders in the worlds of dance, sport, business, philanthropy, science, medicine, religion, education, and civic affairs.

Individuals who have been recognized and honored with Mellon bronzes include Pope John Paul II, President George H. W. Bush, President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan, athletes Michael Jordan, Mickey Mantle, Arthur Ashe, Cal Ripken, Chris Evert, Steph Curry and Venus Williams, dance world legends Agnes de Mille and Cynthia Gregory, Nobel Peace Prize recipients Elie Wiesel, Muhammad Yunus, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama, university builders Herman B. Wells (Indiana University) and John Silber (Boston University), and a host of business leaders.

Mellon’s works in museum collections include The 2009 Official Barack Obama Inaugural Medal, and bronze busts of George H.W. Bush. His portrait bust of Pope John Paul II resides in the Papal Apartments of the Vatican; his bust of Elie Wiesel at the 92nd Street Y in New York City and the Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies at Boston University.

Examples of Mellon’s works in bronze are on 40 university and medical campuses across America, including major statues of Dr. Alton Ochsner in New Orleans and of George Eastman (Eastman Quadrangle) and Ed Hajim (Hajim School of Engineering) at the University of Rochester.

Mellon has also produced several of America’s best known bronzes of sports and popular culture, including the NBA MVP Trophy, the WNBA MVP Trophy, the Bobby Clarke Trophy and the Dave Rimington Trophy. For forty years he’s captured the athleticism and beauty of both sports and dance, culminating in recent retrospective exhibits in each area.

The artist is also known as an accomplished medalist and relief sculptor. His medals have paid tribute to Theodore Roosevelt (commissioned by the Theodore Roosevelt Association), Barack Obama (commissioned by the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee), Nobel Peace Prize recipient Albert Schweitzer, and engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Wallace H. Coulter.

Mellon’s recent bust of Muhammad Ali is presented annually as the Muhammad Ali Voice of Humanity Honor by the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences. The 2017 recipient is the legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

Over the last five years Mellon has been working collaboratively on a ballet inspired series of bronze with some of our most accomplished international ballet artists. His model/collaborators have included ABT Principal Dancers Hee Seo, Marcelo Gomes, Devon Teuscher and Christine Shevchenko, Soloist Cassandra Trenary, and Corps de Ballet member Elina Mietinnen.

Mellon’s love of the figure and interest in exploring core human values is evident in all his art. “My sculptures are meant to move and uplift the spirit,” he says. “I’m interested in how we find meaning and fulfillment in this world, and my work, across the board, reflects that interest.”

Mellon is President ex-officio of the Artists’ Fellowship Inc., a foundation that assists professional fine artists and their families in times of emergency or bereavement. He is an active member of the National Arts Club, The Century Association, and The Salmagundi Club, all in Manhattan.

He has also served as sculpture juror for many national arts organizations, and has received awards from The National Sculpture Society, Allied Artists, the Hudson Valley Arts Association, The National Arts Club, and The Salmagundi Club. Over the decades Mellon’s timeless works have been featured in art magazines American Artist and Fine Art Connoisseur, and noted by publications as diverse as The Wall Street Journal and GQ Magazine.

Mellon has been casting in bronze for over 40 years. He is married to fellow noted sculptor Babette Bloch, equally well-known for her laser-cut and water-jet cut stainless steel sculptures and monuments. Marc and Babette have his-and-hers studios in Redding, Connecticut. Each had one-person museum exhibitions in 2015 and 2016, with future exhibitions in planning.

The artist’s current works-in-progress include an over life-size bust of Elie Wiesel for Elie Wiesel Plaza in Bucharest, Romania. He is also currently working on enlargements of balletic works for exhibits in-planning and permanent public siting.

 

Artworks:

Exhibitions:

Awards:

Related documents:

Document information

Document permalink:
http://salmagundi.org/artist/?p=72469

Digital-born document number:
SAL.2021.72469

Record birth date:
April 14, 2021

Last updated: July 19, 2023 at 15:27 pm

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