Art has the power to do more than decorate a space — it can anchor a room, reflect a season of life, and quietly shape how we see the world.

That belief guides the work of Melanie Stimmell, a fine artist known for her distinctive style of Whimsical Surrealismand her ability to weave symbolism, nature, and the feminine spirit into richly layered visual narratives. Her paintings invite collectors into imagined worlds where beauty carries meaning and every detail serves a purpose.

At the core of Melanie’s work is a lifelong reverence for animals. She has never been able to turn away from the idea of an animal suffering or being overlooked. Instead, her work elevates them — not as decoration or metaphor alone, but as beings worthy of presence, dignity, and respect. In her paintings, animals appear as guardians, companions, witnesses, and equals, often holding as much narrative weight as the human figures beside them.

Melanie’s career with Park West Gallery began in 2021, when she was selected as a Top 10 finalist in the Made in Vegas competition. Her New Year’s Eve debut sold out with record-breaking print sales, marking the beginning of a fine art career that continues to resonate with collectors worldwide.

Her work explores the intersection of the divine feminine and the natural world — women entwined with animals, florals, and symbolic elements that suggest protection, balance, resilience, and wonder. Each piece is created with the intention that it will not simply be seen, but lived with.

Before her studio practice became her primary focus, Melanie spent years painting in soft pastel on streets around the world — sometimes through the night, sometimes in the rain. Those moments mattered more than comfort. Painting in public, in fleeting conditions, taught her how deeply art can connect when it meets people where they are. At the same time, it sparked a desire to create work that would endure — pieces that wouldn’t wash away, but would remain present and lasting.

That evolution led her back to the studio, where the immediacy and scale of street painting transformed into permanent fine art. Her paintings carry the spirit of those ephemeral moments, translated into works designed to hold memory, meaning, and longevity.

In addition to her fine art practice, Melanie is an illustrator and surface pattern designer, extending her imagery into textiles, wallpapers, and curated objects that bring her visual language into everyday life.

She is also the co-founder and Creative Director of We Talk Chalk, a globally recognized 3D street-painting company. In 2022, she designed and painted the ceiling of the Caesars Palace Grand Entrance — a permanent installation welcoming visitors to one of Las Vegas’s most iconic landmarks. Through We Talk Chalk, Melanie oversees immersive large-scale projects and international street-painting exhibitions worldwide.

Melanie is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and spent eight years as a Technical Director on the South Park feature film and television series. Her dedication to street painting earned her Gold Medals and First Place awards at Europe’s most prestigious festivals, along with the title of Maestra Madonnara (Master Street Painter) in Italy and Germany.

She continues to create from her Las Vegas studio — where each painting begins with story, symbolism, and intention.

She lives with her husband Remco, their son Luc, and a lively collection of animals and plants that quietly inform much of her work.