"Both art and land conservation are about legacy, something done now for future generations. "

Exhibitions

Siamo Natura

Biodiversity and Betadiversity

Biodiversity and Betadiversity

Museo Novecento, Florence

Biodiversity and Betadiversity

Biodiversity and Betadiversity

Biodiversity and Betadiversity

Dittrich & Schlechtriem, Berlin

Conservation Imperatives

Biodiversity and Betadiversity

Conservation Imperatives

Giovanni's Room, Los Angeles

Tennis Elbow: 109

Biodiversity and Betadiversity

Conservation Imperatives

The Journal Gallery, New York

Into the Time Horizon

Utopia. The Right to Hope

The Flesh of the Earth

Nevada Museum of Art, Reno

Curated by Apsara DiQuinzio and Kolin Perry

The Flesh of the Earth

Utopia. The Right to Hope

The Flesh of the Earth

Hauser & Wirth, 

New York

Curated by Enuma Okoro

Utopia. The Right to Hope

Utopia. The Right to Hope

Utopia. The Right to Hope

Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Germany

Curated by Dino Steinhof, Andreas Beitin, Sebastian Mühl, and  Veronika Mehlhart

Flora & Fauna

Utopia. The Right to Hope

Utopia. The Right to Hope

1053 Gallery, Fleischmanns, New York

Curated by Ryan Steadman and Haley Mellin


Bridging painting and land conservation

"Siamo Natura," curated by Sergio Risaliti and Stefania Rispoli, Museo Novecento.

    Teaching

    Artist Talk: What is Carbon?, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

      "The paintings link to the conservation beyond the canvas. A detailed painting that is 10 inches, points to the wider landscape, like a pin dropped on a map. If there is a golden ratio for time, it is one hour of painting for every hundred hours of land conservation."

      Curriculum Vitae

      Education 

      2025 Mentorship with Rose Shakinovsky and Claire Gavronsky, Poppiano, Italy

      2012 Doctor of Philosophy in Visual Culture and Education, New York University

      2005 Whitney Museum Independent Study Program, New York

      2003 Bachelor of Art in Art Practice, Minor in Education, University of California at Berkeley


      Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions

      2025 “Siamo Natura,” Museo Novecento, Florence, Italy (link)

      2024 “Biodiversity and Beta Diversity,” Dittrich & Schlechtriem, Berlin, Germany (link)

      2023 “Conservation Imperatives,” Giovanni’s Room, Los Angeles, California (link)

      2022 “Tennis Elbow: 109,” The Journal Gallery, New York, New York (link)

      2020 “Tennis Elbow Window: 10,” The Journal Gallery, New York, New York (link)

      2017 “Warhol & Mellin,” Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, California (link)

      2016 “Haley Mellin,” Bischoff Projects, Frankfurt, Germany (link)

      2014 “Haley Mellin,” The Still House Group, Red Hook, Brooklyn (link) 

      2014 “Haley Mellin,” Retrospective Gallery, Hudson, New York (link) 

      2011 “Haley Mellin / Olivier Mosset,” Untitled Gallery, New York, New York (link)


      Group Exhibitions 

      2026 “Flora and Fauna," Chandler Gallery, Mill Valley, CA (forthcoming)

      2026 “Into the Time Horizon,” Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, Nevada (link)

      2025 “Five Year Anniversary Show,” Micki Meng, San Francisco, California (link)

      2025 “Utopia. The Right to Hope,” Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg, Germany (link)

      2025 “Paper Room,” Halsey McKay, Brooklyn, New York (link)

      2025 “Alert & Attuned,” Gretchen Schuette Art Gallery at Chemeketa College, Salem, Oregon (link)

      2025 “A Forest,” curated by Dylan Siegel and Jack Chase, Hexton Gallery, Aspen, Colorado (link)

      2024 “Accrochage,” Dittrich & Schlechtriem, Berlin, Germany (link)

      2024 “Not Too Late,” curated by Charlie Moffett, Charles Moffett, New York (link)

      2024 “The Flesh of the Earth,” curated by Enuma Okoro, Hauser & Wirth, New York (link)

      2023 “Energy: A Closer Look,” curated by Helen Miller, MassArt, Boston, Massachusetts (link)

      2023 “Diaspora,” curated by Ben Godsill and Joel Mesler, Ezra Gallery, Sag Harbor (link)

      2023 “Walk Against the Wind,” Parker Gallery and Micki Meng, New York, New York (link)

      2023 “Dust Clay Man Woman,” Blanc Gallery, Brooklyn, New York (link, link, link)

      2023 “Flora and Fauna,” 1053 Gallery, Fleischmanns, New York (link)

      2021 “Take Care Project,” Fondazione 107, Torino, Italy (link)

      2021 “Bananas,” Fort Makers, Lower East Side, New York (link)

      2021 “Hudson House: Phase 2," curated by Jesse Jag, Hudson House, Hudson (link) 

      2020 “REAL ESTATE,” curated by Adam Marnie, F Houston, Texas (link)

      2020 “Animal Kingdom,” Alexander Berggruen, New York, New York (link)

      2020 “Online Exhibition: Drawn Together," Unit Gallery, London, United Kingdom (link)

      2020 “King Dogs Never Grow Old,” curated by B. Wise, Diane Rosenstein, Los Angeles (link)

      2018 “Shoulder,” Shoulder Gallery, Los Angeles, California (link, link)

      2017 “Hot Mud," curated by J. Jag, JAG Projects, Spook Rock Farm, Hudson (link)

      2017 “Poster,” Black Ball Projects, Brooklyn, New York (link)

      2016 “Zine Tornado,” Art Book Fair 2016, MoMA Ps1, Queens, New York (link)

      2016 “War Games,” curated by Benjamin Godsill, Morán Morán, Detroit, Michigan (link)

      2016 “Face to Face,” curated by Eugenio Viola, Palazzo Fruscione, Salerno, Italy (link)

      2015 "Winter Contemporary Exhibition,” Alon Zakaim Fine Art, London, United Kingdom (link)

      2015 “Summer Photography Exhibition,” Alon Zakaim Fine Art, London, United Kingdom (link)

      2015 “The Now Forever,” Curated by M. St. John, J. Magri + C. McCranie, Basilica, Hudson (link)

      2015 “The Still House Group, Testing Ground,” Zabludowicz Foundation, London (link)

      2015 “Service Entrance,” Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle, Belgium (link)

      2014 “Right On!,” DUVE, Berlin, Germany (link)

      2014 “Palace 88,” The Still House Group, Chinatown, New York (link)

      2014 “The Still House Group,” Museo Pino Pascali, Polignano a Mare, Italy (link)

      2013 “Straight II DVD,” The Still House Group, NADA Miami Beach (link)

      2013 “Trending,” Untitled Gallery, New York, New York (link)

      2013 “Manifesto,” curated by E. von Thurn und Taxis and A. Guerrero, FIAF, New York (link)

      2013 “Out of Memory,” curated by Eleanor Cayre, Marianne Boesky, New York (link)

      2013 “Young and Starving,” Christie's, New York, New York (link)

      2012 Brand Innovations for Ubiquitous Authorship,” Higher Pictures, New York (link)

      2012 “Brucennial,” New York, New York (link)

      2010 “The Artist as Collector: Olivier Mosset,” MOCA Tucson, Tucson, Arizona (link)

      2010 “Portrait de l’artiste en motocycliste,” Musée des Beaux-Arts, Switzerland (link)

      2009 “Portrait de lʼartiste en motocycliste,” Centre National d'Art Contemporain de Grenoble (link)

      2009 “Land,” curated by Haley Mellin, 101 Exhibit, Miami, Florida (link)

      2009 “The Prompt,” curated by Sarina Basta and Michael Portnoy, commissioned by Performa 09 (link)

      2009 “One Size Fits All,” curated by Jenny Soloman, On Stellar Rays, New York, New York (link)

      2009 “No Bees, No Blueberries,” Harris Lieberman Gallery, New York, New York (link)

      2009 “Black Mondays,” Kathleen Cullen Fine Arts, New York, New York (link)

      2008 “Fair Market,” curated by Haley Mellin, Rental Gallery, New York, New York (link)

      2008 “In Practice,” curated by Sarina Basta, SculptureCenter, Queens, New York (link)

      2007 “Speak Easy: Readings of the Rocks,” curated by Sarina Basta, SculptureCenter, Queens (link)

      2005 “8th Annual Postcards From the Edge,” Visual Aids, Robert Miller Gallery, New York (link)


      Residencies 

      2024 Silver Art Projects, World Trade Center, New York

      2023 Max Beckmann Distinguished Artist in Residence, American Academy, Berlin

      2023 Max Beckmann Distinguished Artist in Residence, Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin

      2016 Work in Progress, Times Square Space, organized by Tiffany Zabludowicz, New York

      2015 The Still House, organized by Isaac Brest and Alex Perweiler, Red Hook, New York

      2005 Whitney Museum Independent Study Program, New York, New York


      Awards, Grants, and Public Commissions

      2026 Sustainability Grant, Teiger Foundation, New York 

      2023 Max Beckmann Distinguished Visitorship, American Academy in Berlin, Berlin

      2023 Dorothy Height Distinguished Alumni Award, New York University, New York 

      2023 Sustainability Grant, Teiger Foundation, New York 

      2022 Sustainability Grant, Teiger Foundation, New York 

      2013 Rhizome Commission, New Museum, New York


      Initiatives

      2024 Schmidt Environment + Art Prize Nomination Committee, MoCA Los Angeles (link)

      2023 Climate Jury Committee, National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington D.C. (link)

      2023 Co-founded Gallery Climate Coalition New York, New York (link)

      2022 Inaugural Member, Innovation Committee, ICA Miami, Miami, Florida (link)

      2021 Co-founded Artists Commit, New York (link)

      2021 Co-founded PACT: Partners in Arts Climate Targets (link)

      2021 Co-founded Gallery Climate Coalition Los Angeles, California (link)

      2020 Co-founded Art + Climate Action, San Francisco (link)

      2020 Co-founded Environmental Council, MOCA, Los Angeles, California (link)

      2018 Founded Art into Acres, Fairfax, California (link)

      2017 Co-founded Conserve.org, East Chatham, New York (link)


      Public Talks, Symposia, Workshops, Conferences

      2026 Land and Water Protectors, Art + Environment Summit, Nevada Museum of Art (link)

      2025 Key Steps in Museum Environmental Sustainability, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence

      2025 Keynote Address on Art and Indigenous-led Conservation Bioneers (link)

      2025 Emergence of the Sacred   Bioneers (link)

      2025 Art Everywhere: Rethinking the Sustainability of Travel ArtLogic (link)

      2024 Climate Change Symposium   MOCA (link)

      2024 The Tree of Knowledge   Pinacoteca Agnelli di Torino

      2024 The Role of Art in the Sustainability Discourse   Christie’s New York (link)

      2024 Art and Land Conservation with Hannah Brainard   Carnegie Mellon (link)

      2024 Conservation Imperatives   Resolve 

      2024 Panel Discussion on Biodiversity and Betadiversity  Dittrich & Schlechtriem (link)

      2024 Silver Art Projects, Silver Art Projects

      2024 Panel Discussion on Climate, Art, and Technology  Magenta Plains (link)

      2024 Climate + Art in Contemporary Practices (for all staff)  Metropolitan Museum of Art 

      2023 Demystifying Carbon (for curatorial staff)   Guggenheim Museum

      2023 Sustainability in Action, moderated by Tim Griffin  Hauser & Wirth (link)

      2023 A Century of Displacement: Climate & Mass Migration Whitney Museum (link)

      2023 A Conversation with Haley Mellin and Mary Rinebold  Queen Mary University (link)

      2023 Artist Talk: On Biodiversity and Betadiversity   American Academy Berlin (link)

      2023 Dorothy Height Distinguished Alumni Award   Radio City Music Hall (link)

      2023 Founding the Gallery Climate Coalition New York  Guggenheim New York (link)

      2023 Core Training: CO2 and SCF Session    KiFutures (link)

      2022 Sustainability in Action, moderated by Louisa Buck  Hauser & Wirth (link)

      2022 Community Meeting: Strategic Climate Funds  Art + Climate Action (link)

      2022 On Land Conservation & Biodiversity Visualization   Garrison Institute (link)

      2022 Art for Hope: Partnerships as a Catalyst for Change  Art 2030 and U.N. (link)

      2021 Drawing and the Digital Age   Harvard (link)

      2021 Climate Advocacy through the Arts, with Ping Wang  Kennedy School (link)

      2021 Exhibition and Environmental Impact   Expo Chicago (link)

      2021 Climate Responsibility in the Arts, with Alex Gartenfeld Feria de Arte de Bogotá (link)

      2020 Climate Change and Heritage, with Sergio Risaliti  Palazzo Vecchio (link)

      2020 Climate Crisis and the Arts    California College of the Arts

      2010 Curriculum, Recess    BHQF University (link)

      2012  Photography and the Visual Archive   New York University

      2008 What is Now: Art of this Decade   MOMA

      2004 Community Education about Kerry James Marshall Studio Museum of Harlem (link)

      2004 DreamYard Arts and Visual Literacy    Bronx City Schools (link)


      Land Conservation; Completed Protection

      The Lakes National Park, Australia: 35,300 hectares, 87,228 acres
      Brindingabba National Park, Australia: 40,469 hectares, 100,000 acres

      Richardson National Park, Australia: 131,900 hectares, 325,932 acres
      Maya Corridor Land Trust, Belize: 12,082 hectares, 29,856 acres
      Bajo Paraguá Municipal Protected Area, Bolivia: 983,006 hectares, 2,429,061 acres
      Lagos de San Pedro, Bolivia: 202,702 hectares, 500,889 acres
      Arroyo Guarichona, Bolivia: 199,435 hectares, 492,815 acres
      Yande Yarɨ, Bolivia: 562,491 hectares, 1,389,945 acres
      Bajo Paraguá-Concepción Municipal Conservation Area, Bolivia: 154,368 hectares, 381,452 acres
      Guanay (Puente Amazonica) Municipal Conservation Areas, Bolivia: 42,650 hectares, 105,392 acres
      Fuente de Vida Municipal Protected Area, Bolivia: 7,715 hectares, 19,065 acres
      Teoponte (Dowara Kanda Tech Uyapï) Municipal Conservation Area, Bolivia: 24,754 hectares, 61,168 acres
      Giant Trees, Brazil: 560,000 hectares, 1,383,790 acres
      Cuchilla de San Juan Regional Protected Area expansion, Colombia: 18,613 hectares, 45,994 acres
      Alto Calima (Serranía de la Cerbatana), Colombia: 18,204 hectares, 44,982 acres
      Atuncela (expansion) - Valle de Cauca, Colombia: 1,320 hectares, 3,263 acres
      Siete Sabias-Esperanza de Vida, Colombia: 30,398 hectares, 75,116 acres
      Quilanga Municipal Conservation Area, Ecuador: 10,632 hectares, 26,273 acres
      Espíndola Municipal Protected Area, Ecuador: 16,538 hectares, 40,866 acres
      Bolívar, Ecuador: 42,888 hectares, 105,979 acres
      San José de Payamino: Ecuador, 54,318 hectares, 134,223 acres
      Aguarico Water Protection Area, Ecuador: 103,000 hectares, 254,519 acres
      Machángara Tomebamba Wildlife Refuge, Ecuador: 24,958 hectares, 61,673 acres
      Pueblo Kichwa Rukullacta, Ecuador: 41,889 hectares, 103,510 acres
      Bosque Alimentario y de la Interculturalidad, Ecuador: 180,035 hectares, 444,876 acres
      Cinco Cerros, Ecuador: 20,942 hectares, 51,749 acres
      Loja Municipal Municipal Conservation Area and Expansion, Ecuador: 74,050 hectares, 182,982 acres
      Sucúa Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Area, Ecuador: 17,741 hectares, 43,840 acres
      Esmeraldas Provincial Conservation and Sustainable Use Area, Ecuador: 213,758 hectares, 528,207 acres
      Tarímiat Pujutaí Nuṉka (Territory of Well Being), Ecuador: 1,237,395 hectares, 3,057,671 acres
      Quito Municipal Conservation and Sustainable Use Areas, Ecuador: 120,722 hectares, 298,310 acres
      Rio Negro Sopladora National Park, Ecuador: 30,616 hectares, 75,654 acres
      Yanuncay-Zhucay Municipal Conservation Area, Ecuador: 26,965 hectares, 66,633 acres 
      Tsarap Chu, India: 158,500 hectares, 391,662 acres
      Yavari Tapiche Indigenous Reserve, Peru: 1,092,651 hectares, 2,700,000 acres
      San Pedro de Chonta: Peru: 51,889 hectares, 128,220 acres
      Chuyapi Urusayhua Regional Conservation Area, Peru: 80,191 hectares, 198,156 acres
      Huayhuash National Landscape Reserve, Peru: 67,590 hectares, 167,018 acres
      Diablo Mountain, Oregon, United States: 48,074 hectares, 118,794 acres
      Pueblo Mountains and Trout Creek Wilderness, Oregon, United States: 124,238 hectares, 307,000 acres
      Berryessa Snow Mountain Monument Expansion, California, United States: 5,542 hectares, 13,696 acres
      Burma Rim, Oregon, United States: 36,582 hectares, 90,397 acres
      Saamaka Community Conserved Area, Suriname: 720,000 hectares, 1,779,150 acres

      Land Conservation; In-Process Locations

      Argentina: Mutquin Municipal reserve: 5,836 hectares, 14,421 acres
      Brazil: Indigenous Protected Areas: 1,000,000 hectares, 2,471,053 acres
      Brazil: OECM's Amazonia: 12,000,000 hectares, 29,652,645 acres
      Brazil: Afluente do Complexo do Seringal Jurupari: 141,565 hectares, 349,815 acres
      Bolivia: Suapi Municipal Protected Area: 2,782 hectares, 6,875 acres
      Bolivia: Ilampu Municipal Protected Area: 1,715 hectares, 4,238 acres
      Bolivia: Ingavi Municipal Protected Area: 120,065 hectares, 296,687 acres
      Bolivia: Porongo Municipal Conservation Area: 4,000 hectares, 10,000 acres
      Bolivia: San Rafael Municipal Protected Area Expansion: 264,323 hectares, 653,156 acres
      Bolivia: Sama Biological Reserve Expansion: 36,426 hectares, 90,010 acres
      Bolivia: Tahuamanu-Orthon Departmental Natural Heritage Area: 280,129 hectares, 692,212 acres
      Bolivia: Mandiyurenda Municipal Protected Area: 83,972 hectares, 207,500 acres
      Bolivia: Azurduy: 15,700 hectares, 38,796 acres
      Bolivia: El Villar: 20,422 hectares, 50,464 acres
      Canada: Northern Yukon Indigenous Protected Area: 850,000 hectares, 2,100,395 acres
      Canada: Seal River Indigenous Protected Area: 4,249,199 hectares, 10,500,000 acres
      Chile: Guafo Island National Park: 22,000 hectares. 55,000 acres
      Chile: Cape Froward National Park: 505,857 hectares, 1,250,000 acres
      Colombia: Indigenous Land Titling (ACT) (second grant): 364,256 hectares, 900,096 acres
      Colombia: Manacacias National Park: 68,180 hectares, 168,476 acres
      Colombia: Serranía De San Lucas National IMD: 405,908 hectares, 1,003,021 acres
      Colombia: Cerro del Duende Regional Protected Area: 91,000 hectares, 224,866 acres
      Colombia: Collectively-titled Indigenous lands - Resguardos: 928,763 hectares, 2,295,000 acres
      Colombia: San Juan Delta Marine RIMA: 160,000 hectares, 397,840 acres
      Ecuador: Runahurco APH: 72,061 hectares, 178,067 acres
      Ecuador: Quijos: 33,336 hectares, 82,375 acres
      Ecuador: San Lorenzo: 54,539 hectares, 134,769 acres
      Ecuador: San Lorenzo: 83,832 hectares, 207,153 acres
      Ecuador: Sevilla de Oro Municipal Reserve: 20,000 hectares, 49,420 acres
      Guatemala: Cerro Amay National Protected Area: 12,949 hectares, 32,000 acres
      Honduras: Uchapa-Pimienta Protected Area: 16,061.85 hectares, 39,689.89 acres
      India: Pin Valley National Conservation Area: 7,575 hectares, 18,718 acres
      Nicaragua: Awaltara Indigenous Conservation Area: 150,543 hectares, 372,000 acres
      Peru: Camisea: 1,011 hectares, 2,498 acres
      Peru: Aguas Calientes Regional Conservation Area: 101,931 hectares, 251,876 acres
      Peru: Osomayo - Milpo Regional Conservation Area: 73,711 hectares, 182,144 acres
      Peru: Medio Putumayo Regional Conservation Area: 399,738 hectares, 987,774 acres
      Peru: Cutervo Regional Conservation Area: 19,357 hectares, 47,832 acres
      Peru: Selva Verde – Santo Domingo Regional Conservation Area: 80,000 hectares, 197,684 acres
      Peru: Tapiche y Blanco Regional Conservation Area: 265,841 hectares, 656,909 acres
      Peru: Rontoccocha Regional Conservation Area: 17,000 hectares, 42,008 acres 
      Peru: Ausangate Private Conservation Area: 12,000 hectares, 29,653 acres 
      Peru: Ere Campuya Regional Protected Area: 700,896 hectares, 1,731,952 acres
      Peru: Lomas y Tillandsiales de Tacna Regional Conservation Area: 161,000 hectares, 397,840 acres
      Peru: Champará - Coyllorcocha: 20,844 hectares, 51,507 acres
      Suriname: Samaaka Indigenous Conservation Area Expansion: 125,984 hectares, 320,000 acres


      Slowness is a virtue of both her painting process and of her work with Art Into Acres. One hour of observational painting corresponds to about 100 hours of work to protect the land it depicts. “They’re not paintings of woe, actually, they’re paintings of celebration." - J. Griffin, New York Times

      Papers

      Conservation Imperatives, securing the last unprotected terrestrial sites, Frontiers Journal (pdf)Download
      Visual Analytics: A visual analytics framework for conservation planning optimization, Elsevier (pdf)Download
      A prioritization strategy for protecting Conservation Imperatives Sites, Frontiers in Science (pdf)Download

      Catalogues and Chapbooks

      "Into the Time Horizon" Exhibition Catalogue

      "Biodiversity and Betadiversity" Exhibition Catalogue

      "Biodiversity and Betadiversity" Exhibition Catalogue

      Published by the Nevada Museum of Art

      Order from the Nevada Museum of Art

      "Biodiversity and Betadiversity" Exhibition Catalogue

      "Biodiversity and Betadiversity" Exhibition Catalogue

      "Biodiversity and Betadiversity" Exhibition Catalogue

      Published by Dittrich & Schlechtriem

      Order from Dittrich & Schlechtriem Gallery

      Biodiversity and Betadiversity Chapbook

      "Biodiversity and Betadiversity" Exhibition Catalogue

      Biodiversity and Betadiversity Chapbook

      Published and distributed by F

      Order from Printed Matter
      GCC Commitment

      Practices

      Studio sustainability

      “Land conservation, as an artistic practice, is invisible, in the sense that nothing is changed. An invisible line is drawn around the location to support its continued evolution.”

      Annual Studio Newsletter

      Copyright © 2026 

      Contact: haley.mellin@gmail.com. Thank you.

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