Melissa Henry is an American artist, writer and philosopher from European stock. Her family has cultural roots extending far back into history and one of Melissa's ancestors on her father's side was the brilliant and successful Viennese composer, Joseph Lanner (Lanner and the Strauss' family were contemporaries)
Melissa Henry attended several European Art and Science Colleges. She has found this conventional education unsatisfying. She has concluded that our postmodern knowledge is missing its very foundation, ignoring the nature's laws which govern and limit our own perception of our reality.
While painting and writing since she was a young girl, Melissa began developing unique, often striking ideas on art, philosophy, sociology, mathematics and the psychology of perception.
Melissa Henry's essentially original art style is known as "Subconscious Realism", and is promoted under the name VERA NOVA.
At the present time she is working on her singular manuscripts as well as creating her extraordinary project, NOVA TOWN, an experimental living model, which will eventually be developed into a leading institution for research into solutions to our most important environmental, educational, economic, ethical and cultural problems.
ART sold in Private Collections Since 1979:
Wellington; New Zealand / Paris, Nice; France / Munich, Dusseldorf; Germany / Vienna; Austria / Rome, Ladispoli, Venice; Italy / Antwerpen, Brussele, Hoogstraten; Belgium/ Amsterdam, Haag, Breda, Zevenbergen, Sneek, Haarlem, Rausdael, Rotter dam; Holland /Toronto, Vancouver; Canada/Princeton, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Merrick, Cromwell, Boston, Virgin Islands and many others; USA. Also private collections in Japan, Spain,Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina.
Among Art exhibitions and musical performances 1983-1986 in NYC: SOHO/Manhattan,among them Liederkranz Foundation, Marlborough Fine Art Gallery.
Solo Artist presentation at the ART EXPO INTERNATIONAL trade show in NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993,1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
Solo Artist Shows 1990-1996 in USA: Hollywood, CA /Mastropietro gallery, Burbank, CA/VeraMichelle Gallery, Studio City, CA / Studio City Show Room, Hollywood, CA / Holland Home Show Room, Paramount, CA / Catalina Island CA / Lace gallery, Hollywood, CA/ Nova Show Room, Sag Harbor, New York/ and many others.
FINE ART MUSEUM, 1997, FLORIDA, purchased 8 paintings for permanent exhibition, FINE ART MUSEUM OF LONG ISLAND exhibition and others.
Judge -- Several Art competitions in LA, CA ;
Judge -- THE FINE ART MUSEUM OF LONG ISLAND art competition,
Judge -- THE OLDEST ART FESTIVAL; Burbank, Los Angeles.; USA in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993.
Judge -- "ART SEARCH INTERNATIONAL" NY, 1994-2002.
Founder of the international program the "ART SEARCH FOR THE MOST UNIQUE IMAGE", since 1995, throughout USA, Europe, Japan, Israel and Australia.
Hundreds of publications in art magazines in USA, "American Artist", "Art in America", Japan, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, England, France, Germany and other European countries.
Essay "Subconscious Realism" published in 1990 by SunStorm Arts International.
Author of "The Universe Of The Mind", an innovative art course; teaching since 1996.
Performer on four CDs comprising original performance and music -- 1986, 1990, 1993, 1994.
Author of the psychological fiction book: "THE NOBLE SOCIETY", Thoughtmill Press, 2002 available through Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and NOVATOWN.ORG.
Recently she began to collaborate with several scientists while writing her innovative book "THE ARTIST'S NOTES ON HUMANS AND THE UNIVERSE."
For many years Melissa/Vera worked as a muralist and interior designer of fine houses and offices in California and New York. From 1990-1997 she worked as a business consultant, had a position of Vice President of the American Barter House International, and worked as an instructing and training chef for a number of fine restaurants in Paramount, Fantana, Torrance and Los Angeles.
For a number of years she was an art director and manager at Mastropietro Gallery, Hollywood; Studio City Gallery, Hollywood; Holland Home Show room, Paramount. She has also organized several International group shows.