About
Melissa Lew [b. 1982 - Bedford, Virginia] is an award winning DC Metro area artist and designer whose work is strongly influenced by her Chinese heritage, especially the culture’s deep respect and esteem for nature. She uses various metals, including precious metal clays, to create unique sculptural jewelry to wear and/or display. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Visual Technology from George Mason University in 2005; her work has received numerous awards and has been exhibited throughout the D.C. Metro area, including at the Bead Museum of Washington D.C. Melissa Lew is also a freelance graphic designer and photographer and currently works full time for CH2M HILL, a global full-service engineering, construction, and operations firm as a graphic designer in the Publication Services department.
On Design:
If I were to describe my graphic design style in 4 words, they would be fresh, clean, vibrant, and modern. I strive to create eye catching and sophisticated work. I specialize in print design (postcards, brochures/pamphlets, invitations, save the dates, etc), web design, and visual identity.
On Photography:
If I were to describe my photography style in 4 words, they would be natural, unintrusive, artistic, and joyous. I have a innovative approach to visual storytelling that enables me to capture your most cherished moments, creating an eternal reminder of how beautiful life is. I specialize in portraits (family/children/headshots/senior portraits) and special events such as weddings.
On Jewelry:
If I were to describe my jewelry style in 4 words, they would be green, eco-friendly, sustainable, and organic. My work is strongly influenced by my Chinese heritage and that includes a deep respect and esteem for nature. I work primarily with recycled fine silver and bamboo.
You can find Melissa Lew Jewelry at:
AsiaStore at Asia Society and Museum
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street)
New York, NY 10021
http://www.asiastore.org/
Recent Awards:
- 2010 – Awarded 3rd Place in Necklace: Metal Clay Category in the 2010 Fire Mountain Gems Jewelry Making Contest
- 2009 – Awarded 1st Place in Clay Category in the 2009 Bead Art Competition
- 2009 – Finalist in the 2009 Fire Mountain Gems International Beading Competition
- 2009 – Finalist in the 2009 Bead Dreams Competition
- 2008 – Awarded 1st Place in Category (Hobbyist/Clay)/Best in Show (Handmade Beads) in the 1st Annual Bead Museum Washington DC’s Celebrating Beads International Jewelry Design Competition
- 2008 – Finalist in the 2008 Fire Mountain Gems International Beading Competition
- 2007 – Finalist in the 2008 Fire Mountain Gems International Beading Competition
Recent Press:
- Try Handmade Review
http://tryhandmade.com/melissa-lew-jewelry/ - Fire Mountain Gems Featured Artist
- DC Examiner Review
http://www.examiner.com/x-29978-DC-EcoStyle-and-Fashion-Examiner~y2010m1d2-Melissa-Lews-green-jewelry-springs-into-full-blossom-Part-1
http://www.examiner.com/x-29978-DC-EcoStyle-and-Fashion-Examiner~y2010m1d4-Melissa-Lew-green-jewelry-Part-2 - Agape – November/December edition of Step by Step Beads
http://www.stepbystepbeads.com/sbsbeads/BAA-2009.pdf - Koi Pond – Special electronic edition of Bead & Button Magazine (2009 Bead Dreams Finalists and Winners Booklet)
http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/Default.aspx?c=a&id=610 - Immortality – Featured in a full page Fire Mountain Gems ad in the December 2008 edition of Lapidary Journal: Jewelry Artist
Recent Exhibitions:
- 10 Photographs – A Postcard is Worth 1000 Words exhibition, APW Gallery in NYC. June 5, 2009 through June 29, 2009
- Koi Pond – Bead Dreams exhibition at the Bead & Button Show at Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, WI from May 31, 2009 through June 7, 2009
- Transcendence 3 – Celebrating Beads exhibit at the Bead Museum in downtown Washington D.C. from September 28, 2008 through December 31, 2008