Artist statement | bio
Melvin T. Halsey Jr. | LANGSTN
As a visual artist, I create work that amplifies power, perseverance, and pride. I guide viewers on a journey through my African American roots and the complexities of today’s social landscape. By weaving cultural motifs and activism, my art celebrates love, beauty, and fearless resistance. I shine a spotlight on the African American experience, enriched by influences from history, street fashion, and West Africa, to tell stories that resonate across generations.
That collision results in an attuned and precise message, which reflects my personality.
My formal exhibiting career started in May of 2018, where my work was first presented at galleries. Prior to that, my artwork was reserved for social media. That primed me for channeling my creativity into pieces that would emotively and empathetically engage with modern viewers in a general setting.
Bringing that energy into the fine art realm gives me the opportunity to leverage that engagement, shaping it to a more refined and authoritative audience.
As I continue to find my place as an artist within our existing paradigm, I am biased towards minority outreach in society, with a pension toward supporting other young artists— giving a voice to the unheard.
For business inquires you can get in touch with me at melvinhalsey@outlook.com
Education
2022 B.A. – General Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa
Selected Exhibitions (includes a combined list of solo, two-person, and group exhibitions)
2018 Two-Person Exhibition, Ancient Roots Exhibit, Art Opening mergeCulture Gallery, Tampa, FL
2019 Group Exhibition, Collective Arts Series 13 Release and Art Exhibit mergeCulture Gallery, Tampa, FL
2019 Group Exhibition, Mint Condition mergeCulture Gallery, Tampa, FL
2020 Group Exhibition, Black Lives Matter Mural Artup + Illsol + New Roots Art Collective, Tampa, FL
2020 Group Exhibition, Hindsight 2020 (Virtual Exhibition) Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL
2020 Group Exhibition, Cross-Culture Art Exhibit mergeCulture Gallery, Tampa, FL
2021 Group Exhibition, Root’d Gallery 221 @ HCC (Hillsborough Community College), Tampa, FL
2021 Flower & Rose Art Show, Rose Bar, Tampa, FL
2024 Group Exhibition, HCC (Hillsborough Community College) 1st Annaul Members Exhibition, Tampa, FL
Murals
2020 Cultural Currency Mural, Tempus Projects + Illsol + New Roots Art Collective, Tampa, FL
2021 Copeland Park Basketball Court Mural, New Roots Art Collective, Tampa, FL
2025 Guava City Paint Mural Jam, Tampa, FL (Located at Grass Roots Kava / Avenue Lofts, 5236 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603)
Grants & Awards
2020 CL Best of the Bay 2020 - Best Visual Artist, Creative Loafing, Tampa, FL
2024 3rd Place in HCC (Hillsborough Community College) Juried Members Exhibition, Tampa, FL
Most illustrative work I create is influenced by African fashion, traditional African masks made from a number of different tribes, and the beauty of animals and nature around us. I always strive to include both hidden messages and tributes to my family history in every work.
I alternate between traditional and digital mediums and most illustrations feature a combination of the two.
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