"I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." - Georgia O'Keefe

Batik and Community Artist Melissa Knight has been a working artist since 2010. Melissa enjoys the process of batik, creating layers of color in the fabric. Recently Melissa has been experimenting with pattern stamping as well as creating larger artworks that highlight the many layers of color in the batik fabric.

In addition to her batik art practice, Melissa facilitates community art projects. Her first community project Interwoven Community Weaving Project (2017) at Rosewood Zaragosa Neighborhood Center was an exploration of community connection through the traditional art form of weaving. Since Interwoven, Melissa has collaborated locally and globally on community-based art projects including The Community Quilt Mosaic and One Million Stars Texas (part of One Billion Stars).

2021-2023 Melissa collaborated with artist Rakhee Jain Desai on a City of Austin Art in Public Places project at the Pharr Tennis Center. The artwork titled “Harmonic Strings” was installed in summer, 2023.

Through community art, Melissa works collaboratively with artists, community organizations and community members.

Working in and around the studio (Blue Cow Studio).

Here is a video filmed for Maker Faire that shares some of the process in my art making.

Blue Cow Studio was built in 2015. Prior to this my husband (Ethan Azarian) and I worked in our home which we called In House Gallery. From 1999-2014 we hosted exhibits at the In House Gallery where we essentially created a gallery space in our home. It was like moving house once or twice a year without actually going anywhere! Things would be stored and stacked up in our bedroom. When I look back on this time, I think we were crazy, but somehow, there was a method to our madness! Now, it’s great to have a home and a studio in our back yard. It’s perfect!

I LOVE working in the studio!

Commissioned artworks

I have enjoyed making garlands with my batik fabric and vinyl fabric (for outdoors) since seeing a friend’s beautiful paper snowflakes a few years ago and I was inspired to make colorful garlands. I am obsessed with the shadows the garlands create as much as I am with the colors and patterns in the fabric! I began using vinyl fabric for outdoor garlands after a lot of trial and error. I tried many different strategies with the batik fabric. It just faded too quickly in the Texas sun and also didn’t fair well in the wet weather. The batik fabric Garlands are perfect for indoors and vinyl garlands perfect for the outdoors! Inside out!

Garlands are listed for sale in my Etsy Store

Interwoven, 2017, Austin Art Boards

I was inspired to challenge myself to a 100 day project in 2019 when I was knee deep in administrative work in support of a community project and it felt important to stay connected with my art practice during this time. I loved working on this project and may be inspired to embark on another 100 day project in the future!