About Melissa Lea ~ The Photographer
Melissa Lea ~ Photography Bio
Melissa Lea has been capturing moments, places and feelings through photography nearly all her life and has been studying its dynamics since her first photography class in high school. Melissa’s first childhood camera in the late 1970’s, at age seven, encased 110 film. Since then she has worked with a wide array of formats including Pinhole Box, 4x5, Manual 35mm, and Digital. Her greatest enjoyment during the “darkroom days” was manipulating images through varied exposures, as Ansel Adam's was famous for, and hand painting color into finished black & white and sepia prints. In the digital age, Melissa continues this same creativity of print manipulation via exposures and color. Only now her paintbrush has been replaced with a computer mouse, manually detailing every aspect. Melissa constantly explores new ways of printing and presentation and comments,
“I like to think outside the box. I find life more exciting and interesting that way”.
On a spiritual level, Melissa comments, “Surrounding ourselves with views of nature and other peaceful things recharges our spirit which allows us to live a happy, more peaceful, complete life.
I feel blessed to experience the beauty and wonder that surrounds me on a physical, spiritual and creative level. And I am excited and honored to share these experiences with others through my photography.”
Melissa Lea has traveled various areas of Europe, Canada, and Hawaii. She has also traveled extensively across the mainland United States. She has explored a large range of terrain and cultures from Yellowstone to the Everglades, the Four Corners Region to the Smoky Mountains and the Hawaiian Islands to Ground Zero. During her 20’s Melissa resided in Chicago where she became deeply involved with the Native American community. She documented several events and ceremonies both public and private.
Melissa continues to journey across numerous parts of the United States, mostly driving the “Blue Highways”, her favorite being Old Route 66. She has traveled various portions of The Mother Road over several years, starting when she was just 8 years old. She drove the entire route solo from Chicago to Santa Monica in 2006. Her Route 66 portion of photography is displayed in museums and shops across the country along the route. Melissa Lea has been a staff photographer and writer for the international publication of Route 66 magazine as well as the New Mexico Route 66 magazine. She is currently President of the New Mexico Route 66 Association and an active board member of The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership - working to establish the entirety of the Mother Road a National Historic Trail.
Born in Bedford Indiana, resided in Chicago IL from 1992 – 2003 and Nashville TN from 2003 – 2007, Melissa now resides in Albuquerque New Mexico.... 2 blocks from her beloved Route66.
“I like to think outside the box. I find life more exciting and interesting that way”.
On a spiritual level, Melissa comments, “Surrounding ourselves with views of nature and other peaceful things recharges our spirit which allows us to live a happy, more peaceful, complete life.
I feel blessed to experience the beauty and wonder that surrounds me on a physical, spiritual and creative level. And I am excited and honored to share these experiences with others through my photography.”
Melissa Lea has traveled various areas of Europe, Canada, and Hawaii. She has also traveled extensively across the mainland United States. She has explored a large range of terrain and cultures from Yellowstone to the Everglades, the Four Corners Region to the Smoky Mountains and the Hawaiian Islands to Ground Zero. During her 20’s Melissa resided in Chicago where she became deeply involved with the Native American community. She documented several events and ceremonies both public and private.
Melissa continues to journey across numerous parts of the United States, mostly driving the “Blue Highways”, her favorite being Old Route 66. She has traveled various portions of The Mother Road over several years, starting when she was just 8 years old. She drove the entire route solo from Chicago to Santa Monica in 2006. Her Route 66 portion of photography is displayed in museums and shops across the country along the route. Melissa Lea has been a staff photographer and writer for the international publication of Route 66 magazine as well as the New Mexico Route 66 magazine. She is currently President of the New Mexico Route 66 Association and an active board member of The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership - working to establish the entirety of the Mother Road a National Historic Trail.
Born in Bedford Indiana, resided in Chicago IL from 1992 – 2003 and Nashville TN from 2003 – 2007, Melissa now resides in Albuquerque New Mexico.... 2 blocks from her beloved Route66.
Galleries Featuring Melissa Lea Fine Art Photography
The Artistic Image
1101 Cardenas Dr NE #206
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 554-2706
Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 to 6:00
[email protected]
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 554-2706
Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 to 6:00
[email protected]
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS
December 2011 “New Mexico Photographic Art Show.”
New Mexico Expo, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The ANMPAS exhibit showcases the very best fine art photography in New Mexico. The show is open to the public from December 3 until December 27,
10-5 pm each day, except Tuesdays and Christmas. The show is located at the Fine Arts Building at EXPONM.
October 15, 2011 - February 12, 2012 "The 20th Annual Fall American Photography Exhibit "
The Hubbard Museum of the American West, Ruidoso, New Mexico
October 2011 "Autumn in New Mexico"
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
September 2011 “Featured Artist”
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
March 2011 "Power of Place"
The Wooden Cow Gallery,Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 2011 "Grand Scale - Celebrating the Large Print"
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
December 2010 “New Mexico Photographic Art Show.”
New Mexico Expo, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The ANMPAS exhibit showcases the very best fine art photography in New Mexico. The show is open to the public from December 5 until December 28,
10-5 pm each day, except Tuesdays and Christmas. The show is located at the Fine Arts Building at EXPONM.
June 2010 "Cruisin' Route 66 - A photographic tribute to the Mother Road"
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
April 2010 "Black and White"
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 2008 “Featured Artist”
FHAB Gallery (Fresco Harmony Art Boutique), Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico Expo, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The ANMPAS exhibit showcases the very best fine art photography in New Mexico. The show is open to the public from December 3 until December 27,
10-5 pm each day, except Tuesdays and Christmas. The show is located at the Fine Arts Building at EXPONM.
October 15, 2011 - February 12, 2012 "The 20th Annual Fall American Photography Exhibit "
The Hubbard Museum of the American West, Ruidoso, New Mexico
October 2011 "Autumn in New Mexico"
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
September 2011 “Featured Artist”
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
March 2011 "Power of Place"
The Wooden Cow Gallery,Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 2011 "Grand Scale - Celebrating the Large Print"
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
December 2010 “New Mexico Photographic Art Show.”
New Mexico Expo, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The ANMPAS exhibit showcases the very best fine art photography in New Mexico. The show is open to the public from December 5 until December 28,
10-5 pm each day, except Tuesdays and Christmas. The show is located at the Fine Arts Building at EXPONM.
June 2010 "Cruisin' Route 66 - A photographic tribute to the Mother Road"
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
April 2010 "Black and White"
Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
February 2008 “Featured Artist”
FHAB Gallery (Fresco Harmony Art Boutique), Albuquerque, New Mexico
PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTIONS
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and Historical Society - Clinton, Oklahoma. Permanent Collection
Route 66 Mother Road Museum – Barstow, California (Historic Harvey House). Permanent Collection
Blue Swallow Motel - Tucumcari, New Mexico. Corporate Collection
Henry's Rabbit Ranch - Staunton, Illinois. Corporate Collection
Round Barn / Arcadia Historical Society - Arcadia, Oklahoma. Corporate Collection
Historic Summit Inn - Oak Hills, California. Corporate Collection
Route 66 Mother Road Museum – Barstow, California (Historic Harvey House). Permanent Collection
Blue Swallow Motel - Tucumcari, New Mexico. Corporate Collection
Henry's Rabbit Ranch - Staunton, Illinois. Corporate Collection
Round Barn / Arcadia Historical Society - Arcadia, Oklahoma. Corporate Collection
Historic Summit Inn - Oak Hills, California. Corporate Collection