Meet the Artist: Melissa Mathieson

@melissalikessushi is a Montréal-based freelance 3D artist and Illustrator. After practicing fine arts for many years, she has now immersed herself into a world that is strictly 3D to give her characters and environments extra dimension.

Melissa’s captivating creations have fascinated audiences all over the world – from showcases in Japan, Hong Kong, Beijing, Toronto and Montreal. Her immersive style encourages interaction, so expect playful elements as you move through the different levels of Melbourne Central.

To coincide with the exhibit, a gift shop on Level 1 in Shot Tower Square will house exclusive merchandise inspired by garden creatures. BLOOM will be exhibiting exclusively at Melbourne Central, making it a must visit this summer.

We asked Melissa to walk us through the inspiration for BLOOM, the process, and everything in between.

What inspired the concept behind BLOOM?

First, I thought the Melbourne Central tower looks like a massive greenhouse—like it could be filled with oversized flowers and little critters. And second, I knew I wanted something bold, bright, and bubbly to bring the space to life.  With Australia heading into full summer mode, a giant, playful garden just felt perfect.

What drew you to collaborate with Melbourne Central?

I fell in love with the Melbourne Central space a few years ago online. The way they use the tower for floating art pieces is just so cool. I’d never seen an installation hovering above you while you shop, it really stuck with me. So, when I got the job, the wheels started spinning with ideas of what I could create in the space.

What part of the artwork are you most excited for people to discover?

I’m most excited for people to find the character they connect with the most! There are so many little details and personalities hidden throughout the installation, so I can’t wait for shoppers to take a moment out of their day to explore and discover them all.

How does creating for a busy public space change your process?

Bringing my art into a public space feels pretty natural, because my characters are already designed in 3D. I would say the biggest change has been figuring out how to position everything so it looks good from every angle, especially since people will be viewing it from all different spots as they walk around the mall.

Most importantly, who is your favourite BLOOM character?

I could never pick a favorite child! But if I HAD to, probably the frog or tomato… but don’t tell the others.