Melissa Vandenberg
Region: South
My “marks” examine the fleeting nature of power and permanence
through common and sometimes somewhat comical motifs
such as stickers, flags, quilts, popsicles, and temporary tattoos.
Questions surrounding patriotism, pride, and partisanship
emerge in work that is both satirical and idealistic.
I am motivated by the notion of a homeland, folk art, current
events, ancestry, and our shared landscape. My interests inform
my media preferences, which often incline toward vintage fabric,
paper, and somewhat mundane stuff. Approachable material
selections make the difficult topics addressed in the work more
palatable. My own history—an upbringing in a northern Rust
Belt metropolis and a deep attachment to southern “make do”
perseverance—has had an enormous impact on the work.
![](https://nap-master.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/entry_thumb/public/4.Vandenberg-DisorderlyConductA.jpg?sd6IxhGVhUebzKFlC2IE6T7c54vcSjkL&itok=u9TkbOSO)
![](https://nap-master.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/entry_thumb/public/1.Vandenberg-PortalB.jpg?ajpAyRE1okcAk54TVQc.bCRU_MZL_Qh0&itok=GNGMCUhZ)
![](https://nap-master.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/bio_cover_img/public/Vandenberg.jpg?VNYCc32OPpk3vbAoJwknhSUJcL1bsjgP&itok=M9RFMHQS)