Grand Gladiolus, circa 2024

by Melissa Allegories

“Creating and building my narrative feels like uncovering hidden connections. As I research, ideas intuitively link—sometimes eerie, sometimes surprising—like discovering something I didn’t know I already knew. These unknowable connections give life to my work in ways I never expect. MelissAllegories, is an evolving narrative with unique characters and settings intricately interwoven to convey a myriad of metaphors. This collection comprises five interconnected worlds within an overarching realm named Lében, the German word for Life. Grandpa Gladiolus is an elder figure with wisdom and experience, leader of the Iris family, and a survivor of tragic events in the Electric Forest. I think that some people need to be dreamers to give others hope. I love using lines, shapes, symbols, and patterns. I use acetate sheets, transfer paper, and stencils to convey concepts. My work emphasizes our relationship with the biosphere (on, above, and below where all life exists) as an interaction between nature and nurture—a willingness and consensus between biological and environmental factors to sustain life.”