Melissa
Fiorentino

"I create art that shows life by way of showing a different side of life, the side where
we are learning,
discovering and living through the feeling that moves through our veins during the
process. Art is the escape from the reality of everyday life, a chance to leave this
chaotic world for a while and go somewhere where we feel life differently
or notice the unnoticeable.
I know that is what I feel when I see a painting or anything that moves me and
that, is what I want to do for others and give them an opportunity to do
the same. I just hope to find that people can see something in my art that moves them,
that makes them get goose-bumps or makes them feel the need to stop every time they
walk by and to give them the feeling of being alive!
    Life is art and art is life. Creating an exact emotion through a painting is number
one on my list and to give life and painting a meaning and a purpose."












Nude Nite!!! Tampa Florida... Look at home page for all the info.

ART WALK DOWNTOWN OCALA, FL.
 First Friday of every month. 6pm-8pm
In front of RefleXions of You on Ft. King St.
Live painting and art for sale.





Primary Gallery
October 2009- January 2010

    Melissa Fiorentino is an acrylic painter who was born in New York in 1983.
Melissa paints and learns by studying her influences that range from
Michelangelo to Piet Mondrian. A variety of color schemes, intense and
sometimes risky subject matter help Fiorentino’s work to be so shocking and
different that they stand out. She tends to have a unique style bringing a
representational piece, abstract and a portrait all into one. It is a way to
allow a way for there to be a reality and dream or nightmare enclosed onto one
image. 
  
   Melissa Fiorentino is a artist who "creates paintings that show a different
side of life, the side where we are learning, discovering and living through
the feeling that moves through our veins during the process"(Fiorentino), that
rush that we feel. Her paintings suggest a reality stringing a type of personality
extension of the subject in the painting by bringing together a surreal and
abstract idea of what a person feels while they are experiencing life.

    Challenge and problem solving skills are involved in Fiorentino’s work and
she uses these things to track her growth as an artist and as a person. She
had her work in the Appleton Museum of Art when she was only 16 years
old and from that moment on started working and getting herself into any art
shows that she could get into that was at her disposal. Fine Arts for Ocala
started to bring her many awards each year, than getting awards such as the
Award of Merit in 2002 and the Award of Distinction in 2003 has fueled
her aspirations. Youngest artist to have her own booth and display her own
work at the age of 19 in 2003 for Fine Arts For Ocala, now she is working on
getting herself into any art festivals and galleries possible. Fiorentino plans to
start a new idea of painting and work towards opening her own gallery and
studio all in one, so that people may see her work as she progresses towards
her changing styles. Actively working in her studio in Ocala, FL, she is
working towards earning a name for herself and painting up a huge portfolio
worth of paintings that express her ideas and discoveries as an artist and person.



Background and Training

Self taught drawing from 1999 to present.

Self taught painting from 2003 to present.

Central Florida Community College, 2001-2002, 2007-2008

Studied with Jack Thursby and various other local painters in Ocala, FL.

2000. Appleton Museum of Art. Ocala, FL

2000. Fine Arts for Ocala. Ocala, FL

2001. Paddock Mall Student Art Show. Ocala, FL

2002. The CFCC Webber Center Student Art Exhibition. Ocala, FL

2002. Fine Arts for Ocala. Ocala, FL

2003. The CFCC Webber Center Student Art Exhibition. Ocala, FL

2004. Silver Spring Shores 30th Anniversary Festival. Ocala, FL

2005. All That Art. Ocala, FL

2006. All That Art. Ocala, FL

2006. Primary Oven Gallery. Ocala, FL

2006. Fine Arts for Ocala. Ocala, FL

2007. Primary Oven Gallery. Ocala, FL

2007. Valley Trash Art Fest. Palm Valley, FL

2008. Canvas Art Show. Tampa, FL

2008. ( Jan-Feb) Primary  Gallery, Ocala, FL

2008. International New York Art Festival. New York, NY

2008. Cellar Roots Art Gallery. Eastern Michigan University, MI

2008. "It’s a Surreal World" Progress Energy Art Gallery. New Port Richey, FL

2008. ( March-April) Primary  Gallery. Ocala, FL

2008. Fine Arts For Ocala, Ocala, FL.

2008. Solo Exhibition @ Primary Gallery, Ocala, FL.

2009. Primary Oven Gallery, Ocala, FL.

2009. ALL IS ART IV. Ocean Club. Jacksonville Beach, FL.

2009. Live Art Party!. Primary Gallery. Ocala, FL.

2010. Primary Gallery. Ocala, FL.

2010. Nude Nite. Tampa, FL.

Awards, Honors and Commissions

1999. Fine Arts for Ocala, Ocala, FL
~First Place-wheel thrown pottery
~Second Place-wheel thrown pottery
~Second Place-scratchboard drawing

2000. Paddock Mall Student Art Show, Ocala, FL
~First Place- sculpture
~Third Place-clay/wheel throwing

2000. Fine Arts for Ocala , Ocala, FL
~First Place-pencil drawing

2001. Paddock Mall Student Art Show , Ocala, FL
~First Place-charcoal drawing
~Second Place-Clay Sculpture

2003. The CFCC Webber Center Student Art Exhibition , Ocala, FL
~Award Of Merit- Acrylic Painting (Made it in Star banner Newspaper)

2003. Won Second Place in all Florida Colleges for pencil drawing "Inside of Me",
self portrait with poetry threaded through my hair. Which later was published in
"Imprints" a college publication for CFCC.

2003. Fine Arts for Ocala , Ocala, FL
~Winner of Fine Arts for Ocala Scholarship

2004. The CFCC Webber Center Student Art Exhibition ,Ocala, FL
~Award of Distinction- Acrylic Painting (Made it in Starbanner Newspaper)

2008. The CompelloArt and Saatchi Online Winner ( Featuring "Cambodian Girl"
out of over 1000 artists online) London, UK

2008. #1 Ranked Image "Lavender" Artistic Pursuit Top Ranked Image "Lavender" First Place
http://www.artisticpursuit.org/Top-Ranked-Submissions/
http://www.artisticpursuit.org/gallery/topimage/

2008. ARTROM Gallery Winners' Exhibition "Humans in the Moment" Painting "Lustful Webs",
Rome, Italy.

Written Review:

Melissa Fiorentino / USA

Gallery Comment ::
Dramatically staged subjects in unnusual situations painted with great clarity distinguish
Fiorentino's work. This is an artist to keep an eye on as she continues to mature, refine
and progress in the development of her own unique style.


Commissions include:

2003. Central Florida Community College, Ocala, FL, USA (Mural)

2003. TJ, Ocala, FL. USA (Portrait, pencil)

2004. Jim Wright, Ocala, FL, USA (Portrait, painting)

2005. Morgante, Ocala, FL, USA (Portrait)

2005. Casey Kurchoft, Ocala, FL, USA (Portrait, pencil)

2006. Andrew Rizzo, Ocala, FL, USA (Original tattoo design)

2007. Michael Burton, Ocala, FL, USA (Portrait, painting)

2007. Arvilla and Jeff Hocker, Ocala, FL, USA (Mural)

2007. Lola Bain, Ocala, FL, USA (Portrait, painting)

2009. Amy Katz. Ocala, FL. USA (Portrait, painting)

Publications, Television and Reviews

2003. Star Banner Newspaper." Art from show available for sale." Sunday, March
2. Picture of "Subjective Moment" included in article.

2003. CFCC Literary Magazine. "Imprints". Volume 11. Picture of "Inside of Me"
included.

2004. Star Banner Newspaper. "Eclectic mix: Talent shines through at CFCC’s
‘Student Art Showcase’ exhibit". Sunday April 11.

2006. Voice of South Marion. "Young Artist on the Rise." October 5. Pg. 13.
Picture of artist and portfolio included in article.

2006. The Connect Zone . Local Television program. "Melissa Fiorentino, Ocala
artist."

2008. Cellar Roots Vol. 38 Publication (Featuring "Leap of Discovery") Eastern
Michigan University, MI

2008. Fringe Magazine June Issue. (Featuring "My Deterioration, Metamorphosis,
Leap of Discovery, The Awakening" and "Object of Seduction" and biography).
Boston, MA.

2008. Creations Magazine Upcoming April Issue (Featuring "Transcendent" on
Magazine Cover and biography). Northport, NY

2008. Livid Magazine Upcoming Issue (Featuring "The Awakening" and biography)
Baltimore, MD

2008. CompelloArt Gallery of Galleries. News -> The CompelloArt and Saatchi
Online Winners in Art Category. London, UK.

2008. Maximum Technology International. 02/11/08. The CompelloArt and
Saatchi Online Winners in Art Category. Lebanon, NH

2008. #1 Ranked Image "Lavender" Artistic Pursuit Top Ranked Image "Lavender"
First Place
http://www.artisticpursuit.org/Top-Ranked-Submissions/
http://www.artisticpursuit.org/gallery/topimage/

2008. New York International Art Festival Publication. New York International Film
Festival Publication. 2/28/08. Manhattan, NY

2008. The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, FL.

2008. The Spirituality of Music. Author, John Bird. Wood Lake
Publishing Inc. Canada.

2009. New Art International. Book Art Press. Annual Publication. Pages 108-112.

2009. Cellar Roots Publication Vol. 38 East Michigan University Publication.
East Michigan University, MI.

2009-2010. Family Times Magazine. Artist Feature. Dec. 09-Jan 10 Issue. Family Times Publishing. Page 18.

2010. Star-Banner. Febuary 2010. http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Date=20100205&Category=NEWS01&artno=205009987&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1&tc=ar

Related Activity

2005-Present. Professional Fine Art Painter and Pencil Artist, Ocala, FL.

2002-2004. Started the first Art Club in Central Florida Community College. Vice
President and founder.

Participates in Local and Art Exhibits and Festivals in Florida, New York, Michigan
and Las Vegas.

Teaching other artists how to become successful and knowledgeable about their
craft through organizing portfolios and personal painting lessons.

Curating art exhibits at Primary Gallery in Ocala, FL. 

Links where you will find Melissa Fiorentino:

http://www.melissafiorentino.com
http://www.artromgallery.com/Humans/melissa_fiorentino.html
http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/a/artbymf
http://www.myspace.com/melissafiorentinoart
http://www.artreview.com/profile/MelissaFiorentino
http://www.mtiincorporated.com/news021108.php
http://eroticartgallery.blogspot.com/2007/10/artist-melissa-fiorentino.html
http://www.artisticpursuit.org/artbymf
http://www.artbymf.gather.com
http://www.compelloart.com/artist/183
http://www.distantartpost.com/Features/MelissaFiorentino.htm
http://www.myspace.com/archgirlus
http://www.anioman.com
http://www.perfectmuse.com/new_work.htm
http://www.cfcc.cc.fl.us/current/imprints/vol11/losswords.htm
http://www.fineartsemporium.com/links/artistssites2.htm
http://www.perfectmuse.com/melissa_fiorentino.htm
http://afonline.artistsspace.org/view_artist.php?aid=6685
http://www.fine-art.com/artbymf
http://artarmy.org/enlisted.html
http://artbymf.artfaceoff.com/
http://trig.com/melissafiorentinoart/tags/melissa
http://www.topiccraze.com/topic?topic=povrayring
http://www.dailypainters.com/art_links/134/Artists/Contemporary
http://events.ocala.com/ocala-fl/events/show/85922351-primary-oven-art-
gallery-2009-opening-show
http://issuu.com/artstew/docs/artstewmagazine04
http://w3csites.com/profile.asp?u=artbymf
http://www.zoominfo.com/search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=-156500&QueryID
=f4450bee-9d77-4c7f-abba-6a2e83ae4ced
http://www.hiphop-elements.com/vpd/8QHgNNxiWpY.html
http://www.videosurf.com/melissa-fiorentino-102787
www.mesart.com/artworks.jsp.que.artist.eq.3463.shtml
http://www.pangaeaa.com/art_profiles/view/63/0