Haley Mellin


Haley Mellin is an artist and land conservationist.

Early life

Haley Mellin grew up in Marin County north of San Francisco, California. She graduated from University of California Berkeley in 2004, with an undergraduate degree in Art and Education, the Whitney Museum of American Art Independent Study Program in 2005, and NYU Steinhart with a PhD in Visual Culture and Education in 2012. She is an 8th generation Californian and was part of the first land grant family to California. Her ancestor was the inaugural mayor of Los Angeles, and brought the fruit trees to Los Angeles from Spain. Growing up in a community with open space, Mellin was interested in land conservation and biodiveristy preservation. She is quoted, “As an artist, I will never make anything as great as a species. However with forethought and careful planning I can provide the ecosystem for a species so it may continue to thrive.” Listed among her influences are Paul Hawken, who donated plants from Smith & Hawken for Marin County beautification.

Conservation

Mellin conserves independently with a team of advisors. Mellin currently conserves one large-scale location per year into a new park. Focus is on tropical forests for carbon reasons, pristine wilderness and for biodiversity.
In collaboration with the Oregon Natural Desert Association, Mellin arranged funds to protect the Burma Rim parcel in Oregon.
In 2018, Mellin conserved the private inholdings of the Mount Diablo, Oregon Wilderness Area with the Oregon Desert Land Trust.
Mellin committed to conserving the Cerro Amay, Guatemala National Park forest in 2017, with contract completion in 2018. Cerro Amay, Guatemala is the largest unprotected cloud forest in Northern Central America.

Exhibitions

Recent exhibitions include Museo Pino Pascali, Italy; Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Belgium; Zabludowicz Foundation, England; Retrospective, New York; East Broadway Mall, New York; Untitled Gallery, New York; Boesky Uptown, New York; Basilica, New York; Palais de Tokyo, Paris; RENTAL, New York; SculptureCenter, New York; the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris; Art in General, New York.; Explorers Club, New York, NY; Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA; Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami, FL; Whitney Museum ISP, New York, NY; Biennale, Liverpool, England; U.C. Berkeley University Gallery, Berkeley, CA; Yale University Gallery, New Haven, CT; Zine Tornado, Ps1, Queens, New York; September 18, 2016,