Art is something that has and will continue to stand the test of time. From caves to canvas and from classical to baroque to postmodern art, the world of art has come a long way and continues to evolve with time. One artist who knows the ingredients for inspirational, empowering, vibrant yet evolutionary art is Melissa Falconer, also known as M. Falconer.
From doing art using scraps around the house to painting public figures like the music sensation Rihanna, and the Obamas, Melissa’s evolving journey and success story are no ordinary.
Based in Toronto, Canada, Melissa Falconer is a pop artist known for creating inspirational artwork through a unique approach. Her mastery of pop art, the boldness of her strokes, and the use of vibrant coloration is what has caught the attention of art enthusiasts around the globe. Her portrait of the Insecure actress Yvonne Orji now hangs in the celeb’s home.
For Melissa Falconer, life was never meant to be linear; it was meant to be hard, so she could learn to ride along the waves of her life instead of crashing against them. Being a Black artist, Melissa knew, from the very start, that the road to success would be bumpy, as women of her color aren’t given much space in the art genre. But her mentality of not being afraid of failures and recognizing that it’s just part of the process was what paved her way to becoming a seasoned pop artist.
Growing up, Melissa had to face severely limited choices. After her parents migrated from Jamaica to Canada, Melissa’s family still lived a humble life, having just enough to fulfill their needs. And because Melissa was a creative kid, she would use scraps to create her artwork, including paper mache crafts, puppets, drawings, kites, etc.
“I was conditioned to believe that the only path to success was to become a career person like a lawyer or a doctor,” says the profound artist. Without realizing that being an artist was a viable career, Melissa started to pursue accounting and didn’t start painting until the end of her second year. She started off with portraits of friends and family, painting the first one for her mother as a mother’s day gift. What started out as a hobby and a mental health outlet soon developed into her passion as well as her line of business, starting from her university dorm.
Currently, Melissa is a profound artist whose artwork motivates people to feel empowered, represented, hopeful, confident, and loved. Despite portraying her breathtaking artwork, Melissa is passionate to inspire others to pursue their passions regardless of the obstacles that come their way.
Moreover, her artwork is a beautiful depiction of her underrepresented culture, the Black culture, and the empowerment of Black people. Her artwork perfectly conveys her emotions, with each masterpiece highlighting crucial parts of her life being a Black woman.
Melissa’s impressive portfolio speaks all about her artistry. Take a look at some of the masterpieces here. And do check out her apparel line, the vibrant hoodies might even end up in your cart!
