Melissa Hutton explores the socioeconomic issues spurred by the ubiquity of mass production and American consumerism. Her interest in the influence of mass media derives from her professional career as a graphic designer, where the dogma of marketing and advertising were impressed upon her. Hutton' s creative vision is marked by the commitment to maintain a relationship between the two, culminating in visually polished, seemingly light-hearted objects that speak to contemporary social concerns.

As the media plays on beauty and sex appeal to attract public interest, Hutton employs a similar, yet constructive tactic. Her style of flattened color planes, strong lines, and smooth, glossy surface textures is easily associable. In lieu of shocking people into awareness, she incorporates popular brand names, playful animal renderings and personal imagery to explore sterility and false realities in life. To these images she lends a palpable human quality borne from a blend of personal experiences.

Hutton's process draws heavily from her background in graphic design. She orchestrates ideas and images digitally and then transfers the images to metal or wood, by silk-screening, hand painting, and spray paint. Each piece is constructed using layers of epoxy resin granting a sense of depth to the composition.

While the resulting product resembles the clean-cut, visually approachable imagery of popular media, the delivery provides a playing field in which the viewer can safely address themes that are often difficult to confront. Under these polished surfaces, Hutton foregrounds a society preoccupied with materialism in a manner that is both thought provoking and compassionate.

BIO
Melissa Hutton has been an active member of the San Francisco art scene since 1992. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL she moved west to complete her BFA degree in film and printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute.

Following graduation in 1995, Hutton's artistic career flourished with a series of Warholesque hand-painted chairs for a popular local cafe and gallery called Brainwash, giving way to numerous commission works and exhibitions. In 2000, she turned her focus to spray enamel, silk-screened images, and epoxy resins on metal panels. She completed this body of work in 2004.

With twelve years experience in illustration and silk-screening, Hutton has worked extensively as a freelance graphic designer. Her professional achievements are numerous as they are diverse, from co-founding a gourmet coffee and confectionery product company called MUD Gourmet Coffee in 1995 to illustrating and designing products such as "pat the politician" (a book of political satire based off the children's book "pat the bunny").