ARTIST SEEN
Mel Fiorentino:
Modern Renaissance
ARTIST SEEN PROFILE | APR. 2026
How has living in Marion County (or Central Florida) influenced your work?
I moved here from NY in 1990. It was difficult in the beginning because there was nothing cultural going on, but being able to have Jack Thursby as a mentor made me realize it is possible. He really fostered what you have in you and brought it out. He was a dynamic instructor, and I am grateful to have had been able to take all his courses time and time again.
Do you look to art history or contemporary culture for ideas?
Always. I am always discovering new artists and styles to gain from, for ideas in my personal work and discovering new artists for my role as NOMA Gallery curator. I really love how the way we see everyone at the same time via social media kind of brings all these silent connections between creatives all over the world. The past influenced me a lot, speaking of the renaissance, there was a dedication to craft, which I look to in my own work and in my teaching.
Are there recurring themes or symbols in your work?
Themes, I have had some of my own personal spiritual moments, I do love to to create different series based on spiritual ideas, like our connection to the universe. I have always been an aspiring archaeologist, so anything having to do with the past, like my series ORIGIN, it was mixed with delving into the ideas of past lifes, who we could have been in other times. I Paint a lot of figures and that has always come through in my work so that is a ongoing theme, a wink to Renaissance times, maybe to Michelangelo. He’s my fav Ninja Turtle as well.
Do you listen to music, podcasts, or work in silence?
Music, podcasts and audio books. It depends on what I feel my brain and art flow needs. I am a metalhead, so I love that genre, classical, blues, jazz, and of course nerdy podcasts about true crime and art and aliens. I may be an alien.
Is there a skill or medium you still want to master?
I feel like you are always chasing some thing you were inspired by years ago, but one thing for me that I am entering into now is sculpture. I have always been in awe of sculpture, it is my first inspiration and the thing I want to do next. I don’t think I am at master level yet with my painting, I mean I know how much time I have invested so far (24 years) and still do, but there is always something to learn, but I would like to take a whole couple years of just sculpting. It is a whole new way of creating but in 3d, clay has always been my first love since high school, so yeah there it is. Painting just took over at some point.
How do you see the local art scene changing?
Well, since I have seen it evolve so much within these last 20 years, there was nothing going on, at all. Now, after all these years there are more people, and we have a greate community that actually cares about creating meaningful events. We are having a Renaissance of artists now in our own way, so it’s exciting to think about the future of art in our community. I hope it continues.
Do you participate in local art shows or community projects?
Yes, I was in the artwalk about 12 years ago till about a couple years ago. I participate in MCA’s shows as well, NOMA Gallery, Battle of the Brushes and I donate work and live painting to many events in town and have for as long as I can remember. It’s very important to make yourself available for community projects. Art is community and passion and sharing it for future generations.
What do you want NOMA Gallery to be known for ten years from now?
I would like it to be known for bringing artists from around the world together on one stage and I would like for NOMA to have helped artists challenge themselves and grow. I want artists to challenge themselves, always, that is the way to grow and that’s what I want NOMA to bring out of artists from around the world. It’s like a great art consciousness uprising…that’s what I want.
What’s your studio snack or drink of choice?
Altoids-Wintergreen and hot tea preferably mint medley tea. Apparently, I love mint. Guilty.
Find Mel:
Instagram: @MelFiorentinoStudios
Gallery Instagram: @NOMAGalleryOcala