Biography
Molly Mellinger, born in Rochester, Minnesota, currently resides and works in Tempe, Arizona. From a young age, Mellinger showed a natural talent for art, spending hours drawing on any surface she was let loose on. Despite her interest in art, she chose a different path in her early adult years, pursuing a career in the equine industry after earning a BS in Equestrian Business Management from Stephens College in 2013. One of her proudest achievements during this time was co-founding an equine-assisted therapy program for military veterans, Horses Helping Heroes.
In mid-2020, Mellinger made the difficult decision to step away from the equine industry and took a break, during which she rediscovered her love for art. This led her to begin painting with oils, which quickly became her preferred medium. By late 2022, she had committed to pursuing a career as a professional artist, embracing the challenges of learning the industry from scratch.
As an associate member of Oil Painters of America and Women Artists of the West, as well as a pro member and operations board member of Cowgirl Artists of America, Mellinger has seized every opportunity to grow and learn from artists she admires through in person and online avenues. Her work is primarily inspired by horses and the traditions surrounding them. Known for her colorful oil paintings that capture the vitality and sensitivity of her subjects, she continues to expand her artistic range.
Though still early in her career, Mellinger has exhibited at notable events such as Charlie’s March Round Up during Western Art Week in Great Falls, MT, and the 50th Annual Phippen’s Western Art Show and Sale in Prescott, AZ. Her work has garnered attention from collectors across the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Australia.
Education
2024 April 15-19, Rod Zullo Sculpting Workshop, Scottsdale AZ
2023 June 26-29, Derek Penix Oil Painting Workshop, Scottsdale AZ
2021 June 11-13, Peggy Judy Oil Painting Workshop, Crawford CO
2013 B.S. Equestrian Business Management, Stephens College, Columbia MO
Group Exhibitions & Shows
2024 August 22-27, Brannaman Pro-Am, Ogden, UT
2024 May 25-27, Phippen Museum’s 50th Annual Western Art Show & Sale, Prescott, AZ
2024 Feb 17-Mar 16, Best & Brightest Art Show, Scottsdale Artist School, AZ
2024 January 17-21, Art of the Cowgirl, Phoenix AZ
2023 May 13-15, Cowgirl Gathering, APHA at Historic Stockyards, Fort Worth, TX
2023 March 17-19, Charlie’s March Roundup, C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls MT
2023 January 18-23, Art of the Cowgirl, Phoenix AZ
2022 November 10-13, Cowgirl Gathering, APHA at Historic Stockyards, Fort Worth, TX
2022 October 5-30, Paint En Plein Air, Mainframe Studios, Des Moines, IA
Professional Associations
Cowgirl Artists of America, Pro Member and Operations Board 2022 – Present
Oil Painters of America, Associate Member 2024 – Present
Women Artists of the West, Associate Member 2024 – Present