Sabrina Mellado
“Chicken Reliquary",” 2” x 1.5” x 3” , Copper, vintage czech glass, plastic chickens, Photo Credit: Brooke Marsh
The ritual of collecting has always been a part of Sabrina Mellado’s life. Collecting is a habit they established in their childhood as they amassed collections of rocks, shells, beanie babies, marbles, keychains, and any other ephemera that felt important. These objects held significant meaning for Mellado because they reminded them of a moment or a feeling. Through these objects they were able to expand their imagination and build their inner world. Now as an adult, Mellado’s collections are an expansion on those from the past. The objects they collect are inspirited with the feelings surrounding the moment in which they were found. With each object they keep, they are creating a tactile archive of their memories. To elevate their special objects they use the material culture of medieval reliquaries. Placing their objects inside of a lovingly handcrafted reliquary, encrusted with stones or enamels, makes them understood as special to everyone. In materializing memory, Mellado hopes to create a connection between past and present, between themself and the viewer — through the shared act of protecting, elevating, and preserving these objects we can spend a moment worshipping the beauty of daily life.
Sabrina Mellado
Sabrina Mellado is an artist from Puerto Rico currently based in Philadelphia. They received their BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art for Illustration in 2021 and are currently working towards an MFA in Printmaking from Tyler School of Art and Architecture. Mellado’s work is inspired by medieval art, folk art, music, and the culture of collecting. Their illustration style is charming, warm, intimate, whimsical, and witty. This style is expressed through various forms of printmaking, illustration, design, tattooing, and metalsmithing.