About

Melanie Zurba’s (she/her) work aims to dismantle the false dichotomy between people and nature and explores the relationship between humans with the more-than-human world. She is an artist, curator, and researcher, originally from Winnipeg/Treaty 1 territory, now living and working in Kjipuktuk/Halifax (Canada). Her primary artistic mediums are sculpture with clay and found materials and painting with watercolour/gouache.

Melanie is currently completing a Visual Arts In-Studio Certificate at NSCAD University, and has a PhD in Environmental Studies, as well as a Certificate in Gallery and Studio Management from NSCAD University. She has also trained with several artists through workshops, including through La Meridiana International School for Ceramics (Italy), Estudio Paloma (Mexico), Pocosin School of Fine Craft (USA), and the Berlin Arts Institute. She has also completed a residency with the Watershed Centre for the Ceramic Arts (USA) and has received funding for her artistic practice from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Melanie’s artistic, academic and curatorial practices connect to environmental themes and community wellbeing. As an academic (Associate Professor), Melanie works with communities on projects focused on human wellbeing, connection to nature, and environmental governance through her Community-Engaged CoLab at Dalhousie University. Her research methodologies include participatory arts-based approaches. She also contributes to art-environment discourse through reviews and essays for art exhibitions. Melanie’s most recent curatorial contribution (with Erica Mendritzki) was Worried Earth: Eco-Anxiety and Entangled Grief, which was shown at The University of Winnipeg Gallery 1C03 (2022) and the Anna Leonowens Port Loggia Gallery (2023), and the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie (2024/2025).

FULL ART CV

MELANIE ZURBA’S COMMUNITY-ENGAGED COLAB AT DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY