Melissa Koch

Fine art, public art, community art engagement projects and arts education. Exploring the natural world, our human nature, and our connection to the earth, for transformation and healing.
 

Melissa Koch is an architect, visual artist, and arts educator. She lived for many years in Europe, where she studied architecture in London, England, earning a BA in Architecture, an AA Diploma from the Architectural Association, and an RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) qualification. She went on to teach architecture at the Architectural Association, Oxford University, and the American College in London. 
 

After years of teaching and practicing architecture, Melissa transitioned to the visual arts, studying fine art and decorative painting in Brussels, Belgium. There, she founded The Spirit of Place, a decorative arts company known for pioneering avant-garde interiors that incorporated murals, faux finishes, and other decorative elements. 

Upon returning to the United States, Melissa established her studio at Artwood Studios in Seattle, where she expanded her practice to include public art, decorative arts commissions, and arts education. She founded The Children’s Atelier, offering weekend and after-school art workshops for children, and also taught art to youth in artist residencies in the public school system and seniors at Northaven Retirement Community. 

Melissa’s art studio now lives in room 115 at the South Whidbey Community Center in Langley, Washington, where she continues her studio art practice, designs and creates public art projects, and shares her passion for the arts through teaching youth and co-creating community art engagement projects with many other local artists.

Melissa is teaching diverse art workshops for adults at Create Space and has recently begun establishing art classes for youth 10 years - 18 years old. Her goal is to offer creative workshops that offer students the opportunity to explore their unique creative voices whilst learning different techniques of expression such as print making, mixed media, painting and installation art.

Melissa’s artwork is currently represented by the Seattle Art Museum gallery.