Unlocking the History of Our Lineage to Navigate Forward

For the past two years artist, Melodee Strong, has reflected and researched her lineage, examining the experiences and trauma of her parents to fully understand the current status of her relationship with them. While taking this very personal and informative journey into her parents’ lives, she examined the paths that continued from birth to where she is today and her experience of being raised in Minnesota as a Latina which led to deep learnings about her heritage and her family.

Artist, Melodee Strong, is an illustrator, designer, painter, and muralist and her work is on exhibit in Plymouth’s gallery from September 10 to the end of the year. Her multifaceted practice allows Melodee to create using a wide range of materials and techniques. Her portfolio largely consists of children’s book illustration, portraiture, community outreach projects, and murals giving attention to diverse cultures, feminism, and social justice.  Melodee has completed over 70 mural and large-scale projects in the Twin Cities and Jamaica.  She has participated in many gallery exhibitions, book readings, as well as presented to an array of audiences throughout her career

Melodee currently teaches visual art at Franklin Middle School in Minneapolis and is an adjunct instructor at MCAD, Augsburg, Metro State, and the U of M teaching courses. Melodee received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Illustration and her Masters in Arts Education from the University of Minnesota. She has garnered many awards for her illustrations as well as her teaching.