About
Melissa Spratt is a textile artist who lives and works on the Gold Coast. Spratt studied at Queensland College of Art in a Bachelor of Digital Media Honours, Fine Art. Spratt has worked with various mediums; painting, photography, drawing and printmaking, but has found most enjoyment in sculpture and installation. Exploring textile and surface design elements, she works closely with yarn making techniques, where she is most known for her finger-knitted artworks.
Spratt has won and been a finalist in numerous awards and prizes, more recently a finalist in the 2022 Wollumbin Art Award, and BAM Art Prize. She also facilitates workshops for festivals, galleries, libraries and schools. Spratt was the 2018 invited AiR at The Walls Art Space in Miami, where she had a solo exhibition titled ‘Essential Existence’. In 2019 Melissa was AiR at 11th Ave Creative in Palm Beach and was the first AiR at Relative Creative, where she collaborated on work for ‘Gold Coast City Futures Forum’.
After success at The Other Art Fair Melbourne, Melissa was given a place at The Other Art Fair Sydney, where she was listed in the ‘Top 20 artists to watch’. Spratt has been successful in several grants, including a RADF (Regional Arts Development Fund) project which was completed in 2021 titled ‘SENSITISED’ comprising a body of 10 textile artworks, a print photo series and a documentary film.
Melissa Spratt achieved a place in the 2023/24 cohort for Generate GC where she has began a collaborative project with fellow textile and craftivist Tal Fitzpatrick.
Spratt is thrilled to have opened her solo exhibition ‘SENSITISED & SENTIMENTAL’ in the Boyd Gallery space at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre in September 2024 with a body of 20 finger-knitted artworks that speak to her lived experience as a Highly Sensitive Person. Now, she looks forward to working within the arts sector more and continuing to collaborate and exhibit new work in the near future.
CV/Resumé
Education
2018 - 2019 Graduate
TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
2016 - 2016 Graduate
Diploma of Education, Visual Arts, Classroom and Behaviour Management. Queensland University of Technology. 22 day practicum at Varsity College. 33 day practicum at Marymount College
2015 - July to August
Leeds International Summer School. University of Leeds, UK. Modules; ‘The English Country House’ and ‘Entrepreneurship and Society’.
2015 - 2015 Graduate
Bachelor of Digital Media, Honours. Griffith University, Major in Fine Art/Studio Art. II Class Honours.
2012 - 2014 Graduate
Bachelor of Digital Media. Griffith University, Major in Fine Art/Studio Art.
Solo Exhibitions
2024 ‘SENSITISED & SENTIMENAL’ September to November. Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, Murwillumbah, NSW
2022 ‘SENSITISED’ March — Level Up Shop Front Gallery, Coolangatta, Gold Coast, QLD
2021 ‘SENSITISED’ August — RADF body of work and documentary film, Kirra Hill Art Gallery, Gold Coast, QLD
2020 ’New Felt Panic’ @new_felt_panic - Online Instagram Exhibition
2019 October 25-27 ‘Gold Coast City Futures Fourm’ accompanying exhibtion, The Walls Art Space, Miami Gold Coast, Australia
2018 August ‘Essential Existence’, The Walls Art Space, Miami Gold Coast, Australia
2015 - 2016 ‘Melissa Spratt’, The Arts Centre, Gold Coast, Australia
Group Exhibitions
2025 StoryFest Somerset College Banner exhibition collaboration with Tal Fitzpatrick
2024 Surface Festival 100/100 Exhibition and Fence Line, Miami QLD
2023 ‘Just for Fun’ Group show at 3/3 Studio, Surfers Paradise
2023 Surface Festival 100/100 Exhibition and Fence Line, Miami QLD
2022 Surface Festival 100/100 Exhibition and Fence Line, Miami QLD
2022 Finders Keepers Brisbane stall holder debut, Brisbane Exhibition Centre, QLD
2022 ‘Supercut’ Online Exhibition (Project 2) with Outerspace Brisbane, QLD
2021 ‘Untitled 2021’ Traffic Jam Galleries, Sydney, NSW
2020 CO-VIDEO video work group screening via @thefield.mbah
2020 Pop up exhibition, 1 of 12 out of 140 artists TOAF at Westfield Pitt Street Sydney, NSW
2019 Level Up ‘12 Days of Christmas’ Exhibition, Coolangatta, QLD, Australia
2019 ‘ACID Test’ Group Exhibition, Level One Seveteen, Nerang, QLD Australia
2019 ‘Roll Call’ Online Group Exhibition curated by Tessa Bergan, funded by RADF present on Instagram
2018 Level Up Launch Exhibition, Coolangatta, QLD, Australia
2018 Level Up ‘Repertoire’ Group Exhibition, Coolangatta, QLD, Australia
2018 A Tropical State exhibition for Sea Walls Festival Cairns - 100 Pineapples, Cairns, QLD, Australia
2018 The Walls 2018 Program Launch 'Hot and Gold' (Artwork Badge Giveaway), Gold Coast, Australia
2017 ‘Level Up End-of-Program Exhibition’ The Panorama Room, The Arts Centre Gold Coast, Australia
2016 ‘BLA - Brewing Local Artists’ Burleigh Brewing, Gold Coast, Australia
2015 ‘Espial’ Graduating Exhibition, The Arts Centre Gold Coast, Australia
2015 ‘Sculpture’ Artist & Curator of Group Exhibition, Lmtdspace Art Gallery, Gold Coast, Australia
2015 Featured artwork at Swell Sculpture Festival Launch Event, Gold Coast, Australia
2015 ‘12x12’, Lmtdspace Contemporary Art Gallery, Gold Coast, Australia
2015 ‘Smudge Collective’ Griffith University Whitebox Gallery, Gold Coast, Australia
2014 ‘Meta’ Graduating Exhibition, The Arts Centre Gold Coast, Australia
2014 ‘Caba Creative Trail’ Cabarita Beach, Australia
2014 ‘Urban Canvas Creative Showcase’, Gold Coast, Australia (official bleach festival wrap party)
2013 ‘Fox Trot’ Kingscliff, Australia
2012 ‘Exposition’ Coolangatta, Australia
Awards and Prizes
2022 Wollumbin Art Award Finalist, Tweed Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2022 Bryon Bay Arts Magazine BAM art prize finalist, Northern Rivers Community Gallery, Ballina, NSW
2021 Sunshine Coast Art Prize Finalist, Caloundra Regional Art Gallery, QLD
2021 Small Works Art Prize Finalist (postponed due to COVID-19), Melbourne, VIC
2020 Queensland Regional Art Awards (Textile Category) Winner - Flying Arts Alliance. Online.
2020 Sculpture In the Gaol Finalist - Online Exhibition and Sale
2020 Cream Town Artist - Online Exhibition and Print Sales
2020 Belle ArtStart Finalist, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, NSW
2019 Belle ArtStart Finalist, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, Australia
2019 Frankie Good Stuff Awards Finalist, Frankie Magazine, Online
2018 BAM Byron Bay Arts Magazine Prize Finalist, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
2018 Swell Sculpture Festival Finalist, Currumbin, Gold Coast, Australia
2018 Stanthorpe Art Prize Finalist, Stanthorpe, Australia
2018 Border Art Prize Finalist, Tweed Regional Gallery/M-Arts Precinct, Murwillumbah, Australia
2018 Belle ArtStart Finalist, Totem Road, Paddington, Sydney, Australia
2017 #PRIZENOPRIZE Winner, The Walls Art Space, Miami, Gold Coast, Australia
2017 RADFLY Youth Art Prize Winner, Charity event, Council Chambers, Gold Coast, Australia
2016 Border Art Prize Finalist, Tweed Regional Art Gallery, Murwillumbah, Australia
2016 RADFLY Youth Art Prize Finalist, Charity event, Miami Marketta, Gold Coast, Australia
2014 RADFLY Youth Art Prize Finalist, Charity event, Council Chambers, Gold Coast, Australia
Artist Residencies
November 2023 - January 2024
Level Up Studio + Gallery, Surfers Paradise Transit Center
June 2023 (Stipend Supported)
’Incubate’ (1 week) Placemakers* Gold Coast
January 2021 - March 2021
Elanora Community Centre (Activated by The Walls), Good Coast, QLD
January 2020 - February 2020 (cut short due to Covid-19)
11th Ave Creative Studio, Palm Beach Library, Gold Coast. QLD
June 2019 - November 2019
Relative Creative Hub, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, QLD
March 2019 - May 2019
11th Ave Creative Studio, Palm Beach Library, Gold Coast. QLD
May 2018 - July 2018 (Stipend Supported)
The Walls Art Space, Invitation only Artist in Residence, Miami, Gold Coast, QLD
September 2017 - December 2017 (Stipend Supported)
Level Up Youth Arts Incubator Residency Program, ‘City of Gold Coast’ Helensvale Cultural Centre, QLD
Grants
September 2023/24
RADF - Regional Arts Development Fund ‘Activate Grant’ to produce ‘SENSITISED & SENTIMENTAL’ print catalogue
August 2020 - September 2021
RADF - Regional Arts Development Fund ‘SENSITISED’ body of 10 textile artworks, 14 print photo series and documentary film
May 2020
HOTA’s Rage Against the V(irus) artist fund, ‘Germaphobe’ Online
September 2017 - June 2018 (Career Development)
Navigate Young Artists Career Development Program, ‘City of Gold Coast’ Gold Coast
Professional Experience
2025 StoryFest Somerset College Student workshops with Tal Fitzpatrick
2025 Seniors Week March workshop at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
2024 ART PLAY Children’s workshops at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
2024 Headspace workshop at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
2023/24 Generate GC, Supported creative development program - Gold Coast through Situate Art in Festivals.
2023 Makers Market, Surfers Paradise Transit Center
2023 Energex power ‘art box’ artwork wrap - Nerang QLD
2022 Senior Arts and Culture Project Officer at Gold Coast City Council (5 month contract) ‘Public Art Policy and Procedures’.
2022 Artist on Tour - Flying Arts Alliance as part of Toowoomba Regional workshop activations: Oakey, Millmerran, Pittsworth, Yarraman
2020 CREATIVEMOVE Professional Attachment Program via Gold Coast Arts and Culture Council - Public Art Manager Internship.
2020 Cream Town - June/July/August/September Artist, artwork available as framed print, Online.
2020 Level Up Guest Artist ‘Workshop about Workshops’ - Online.
2020 HOTA Gallery YAG - Visual Arts Youth Advisory Group
2020 The Other Art Fair, Sydney, Artist - Cancelled due to COVID-19
2019 Level Up Christmas Night Market, Coolangatta, QLD
2019 Level Up Guest Artist ‘Pom Pom Pets & Finger Knitting’ Workshop - Coolangatta, QLD
2019 Level Up Guest Artist ‘Surface Design Intro Masterclass’ Workshop - Coolangatta, QLD
2019 Energex power ‘art box’ artwork wrap - Upper Coomera, Gold Coast, QLD
2019 The Other Art Fair, Melbourne, Artist - The Facility, Melbourne, VIC
2019 Workshop Artist for three ‘Circular Weaving’ with Adults - 11th Ave Creative Studio, Gold Coast, QLD
2018 Boxwars, Workshop assistant - Falls Festival 2018/19, North Byron Bay Parklands, NSW
2018 Level Up Guest Artist ‘Bead Making and Colour Theory’ - Helensvale Cultural Precinct, Gold Coast, QLD
2018 Boxwars, Workshop assistant - HOTA, Gold Coast, QLD
2018 Level Up x Energex power box artwork wrap - Helensvale Cultural Precinct, Gold Coast, QLD
2018 Guest Artist for five ‘Circle Weaving’ Workshop - Swell Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast, QLD
2018 Guest Artist for two ‘Circle Weaving’ Workshop - HOTA, Gold Coast, QLD
2018 Up-cycled Book Sculpture (Bursary supported) - Installation at Broadbeach Library, Gold Coast, QLD
2018 Visual Art Specialisation Teacher (6 Week Leave Replacement) - Saint Stephen's College, Gold Coast, QLD
2018 Three day felt sculpture workshop with Anna Gunnarsdóttir via Timeless Textiles - Newcastle, NSW
2018 Summer Series Workshops (2 week Internship) - The Arts Centre Gold Coast
2017 Level Up Collaborative Pop-Up shop/open studio - Helensvale, Gold Coast, QLD
2017 Tunnel Gallery Project - Salon Artwork display via Gold Coast City Council
2017 Futurescapes - Collaborative 3D printing project with Helensvale Library via Level Up
2017 Make Create Day - Workshop volunteer with Helensvale Library via Level Up
2017 See Change Sand Tracks - Project workshop volunteer with Relative Creative
2017 Into Fashion Opening night event (Volunteer) - The Arts Centre Gold Coast
2017 Mural Assistant with Kiel Tillman - Corona Extra tent, Quicksilver/Roxy Pro
2016 Artist Talk for Senior Students - Practicum at Varsity College
2016 Summer Series Workshops (Guest Artist) - The Arts Centre Gold Coast
2015 Guest Maker - The Walls Art Space
2015 Mental Health Week ‘School Chatterbox Project’ - Gold Coast State Schools
2014 Meta- Exhibition Artist Talk - The Arts Centre Gold Coast
2014 Griffith University Industry Mentoring Program - Southbank campus, May to July
Publications
2020 Autumn issue of Art/Edit, full page and TOAF director top 20 to watch article mention.
2018 Belle Magazine 'Belle ArtStart' - May Issue
2017 ‘Un Projects’ Online Magazine article, work featured in #PrizeNoPrize Review
Media
2024 Media Release Tweed NSW Council News
2024 Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Alley Art Centre digital catalogue
2024 ABC North Coast radio interview with Julie 8:45am Wednesday 4th September
2020 Autumn issue of Art/Edit, full page and TOAF director top 20 to watch article mention
2019 Salvador Cantellano’ Film ‘2048’ as part of the Gold Coast Futures Forum // Interview
2019 Tits&Co. - Online feature - August
2019 You Wanted A List - Online Article - August
2019 Salvador Cantellano Film ‘2048’ as part of Gold Coast City Futures Forum // Interview - October
2018 Channel 9 // Channel 7 News ‘Level Up Coolangatta Launch’ - November
2018 The Walls Art Space Wrap Video - Glass Media Group
Collections
Private collections - Australia
Star Casino (formally Jupiter’s Gold Coast)
Private collection United States - Texas
Private collection United Kingdom - London
“Create: to cause to come into existence; to form out of nothing; to originate.”
Recent Work
![Melissa Spratt with feature artwork at the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre, 2024 [Images: Claudio Kirac]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53f5a8b0e4b08ac546a20301/1732501391090-AK2LPP199JXHHBTSOITI/Melissa-Spratt_TWEED_Nov204_LR-05299.jpg)
