About

As a young, queer, disabled artist, Melina Ahmad strives to communicate their story through art. They were unable to create art for a year after developing a chronic illness, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which rendered them bedbound. However, over time, they regained enough strength to pursue visual art, beginning with small works until they had recovered enough to create ambitious works of watercolor, sculpture, and mixed-media. 

Now, Melina studies neuroscience and visual art at Bryn Mawr College, inspired by their chronic illness. They plan to attend graduate school for neuroscience research, while continuing to explore and celebrate the human body through art and science alike.

Artist CV

  • The practice of finding beauty within disabled, gender-queer body has been integral to my work. I have found that the average relationship between a mind and a body is complicated, and often emotionally fraught. Whether this is due to gender or disability, as mine is, or another factor entirely, it is common for people to contemplate the state, appearance, or biology of their body.

    My work centers sculptural representations of the human form, in all its imperfection and beauty. I believe in the necessity of three-dimensional art about the body, as physicality and form are essential to the presence that a figurative piece deserves. The non-traditional materials, colors, and imagery that I incorporate into my work depicts the body as riddled with flaws. Using fabric, paper, and found objects, I emphasize the peculiarity of the human form, balancing these with deep blues, greens, and reds to call into focus the fundamental naturality of the body. To further these points, I often bring elements of nature and imperfection into my depictions of the body, referencing human biology, decaying or fragmented images, or plants to explore the complexity of the body.

  • Born: Brooklyn, New York

    Resides: Bryn Mawr, PA

  • 2023 NY State High School Diploma

    2027 (Projected) BA in Fine Arts and Neuroscience, Bryn Mawr College

  • 2024 Chelsea International Fine Arts Competition Exhibition - Agora Gallery (New York, NY)

    2024 All Who Wander - Rockaway Artists Alliance (Queens, NY)

    2024 Interchange - The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC)

    2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Exhibition - The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY)

    2023 Youth Pride Art Exhibition - ELM Foundation (Brooklyn, NY)

    2023 PS Art - The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY)

    2023 PUBLIC: Edward R. Murrow High School Senior Art Show - ELM Foundation (Brooklyn, NY)

    2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Regional Exhibition - The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY)

    2022 Below a Brooklyn Sky Group Exhibition - Established Gallery (Brooklyn, NY)

    2022 The Colors of Our City Group Exhibition - ArtsConnection, Centerview Headquarters (New York, NY)

    2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Regional Exhibition - The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY)

  • Emerging Young Artist Awardee - VSA

    St. Gaudens Medal Awardee - School Art League

    Recipient - PS Art - “American Robin”

    National Silver Medal Recipient - Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - “Q Train”

    Gold Key Recipient - Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

    • “Intersection” - Art Portfolio - 2023

    • “The Q Train” - Painting - 2023

    • “World Building” - Sculpture - 2023

    • “Portrait of a Girl in Cloth” - Mixed Media - 2022

    Silver Key Recipient - Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

    • “The Keys” - Sculpture - 2023

    • “Dinner” - Sculpture - 2023

    • “American Robin” - Sculpture - 2022

    Honorable Mention - Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

    • “The Sitter” - Sculpture - 2023

    • “Supine Self Portrait” - Painting - 2023

    • “The Bereavement Crisis” - Mixed Media - 2022

    • “Man on Porch” - Painting - 2022

    • “Self Portrait” - Drawing & Illustration - 2022

    Summer Art Scholarship Recipient - The Cooper Union