About the Artist

Merissa Mann (b. 1995) blends her background in costume design with a passion for art history to create captivating paintings, photographs, and soft sculptures. Her work explores ecofeminism, horror, and systems of desire, highlighting the connection between body and nature.

Mann holds an MFA from Otis College of Art and a BA in Practice of Art from UC Berkeley, where she was the first to receive the Certificate in Design Innovation. She has won Best in Category at the Beverly Hills Art Show (2021, 2022) and recently performed her piece Beluga Burlesque at the Red Cat Theater for CalArts' Talent Show.

Specializing in gouache paintings on paper, Mann enjoys the medium’s fluidity and irreversibility. She often incorporates ink, washi paper, and specialty paints, with some works featuring a glossy sheen to enhance the viscous quality of her subjects.

Based in Los Angeles, Mann spends her time painting, sewing, and relaxing with her two Maine Coon cats when not tending to her garden.

Photo credit: Meka Tome for beautifully capturing the essence of Merissa Mann’s artwork.