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Individual & Group Exhibitions Individual & Group Exhibitions
Recent Commissions Recent Commissions
Professional Activities Related Professional Activities
Academics Academics
Contact Contact
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return Mel Ristau Selected Works Index
Mel Ristau's aerial sculptures animate large interior spaces with color and whimsy — creating smiles and therapeutic destinations for adults and children alike. Art intersecting with and inspiring daily life is what Ristau’s aerial sculptures are about.

Ristau has placed his monumental works from coast to coast. Public spaces include office buildings, schools, medical facilities and universities.

Ristau has an extensive design background, ranging from educational and playful commercial products, to design research. He holds an MFA in design from the University of Kansas School of Fine Arts (1983).

A native of the Louisiana Gulf Coast, Ristau lived in Texas for nearly two decades before settling in Colorado in 2001. He began focusing on his fine arts interests in 2003.



Individual & Group Exhibitions

2000-08 Set In Motion, Kinetic Art in the Northwest, Sculpture
Stream Through Yellowstone, 6 x 15 x 30', aluminum, stainless, polyurethane
Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT

A Psychology of Happiness (solo), Sculpture, Prints, Collage, Lighting
Only Contemporary Art Gallery, Fort Collins, CO

Mel Ristau, Sculpture - Prints,
Composition, Denver, CO

Indoor Sculpture Exhibition, Sculpture,
Steamboat Springs, CO


1990-99 Change - Group Exhibition, Sculpture - Prints,
Change Chamber Gallery, Dallas, TX

Ristau - Mel, Jacque, Aaron, Jacob, Drawings - Sculpture - Lighting

Clover Virginia Shore Gallery, ACU, Abilene, TX

Mel Ristau, Drawings
Sul Ross University Gallery, Alpine, TX

Mel Ristau - Beaded Drawings, Drawings - Sculpture
Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery, McMU, Abilene, TX

Mel Ristau and Van LeBus, Drawings - Serigraphs - Sculpture
Center for Contemporary Arts, Abilene, TX

Group Exhibition, Sculpture
Jordan Magic Mountain Gallery, Taos, NM

Second Nature Sculpture
Susan Davidoff, David Everett, Rick Floyd, Cynthia Holmes, Benito Huerta,
William Montgomery, Willie Ray Parish, Mel Ristau, Regina Vater, Liz Ward
Adair Margo Fine Art, ElPaso, TX


1980-89 Imagine Tokyo Exhibition, Serigraphs, Konica Gallery
Tokyo, Japan

Beyond Sculpture - Constructions by Texas Artists, Sculpture, Abilene Fine Arts Museum
Abilene, TX

Mel Ristau - Solo Exhibition, Serigraphs
Bratislava, Czechoslovakia

Imagine Exhibition Apple Computer & Verbum, Serigraphs, Verbum Gallery

San Diego, CA

Group Exhibition, Sculpture - Serigraphs, Crescent Center Gallery
Dallas, TX

Mel Ristau & Jack Maxwell, Sculpture, Assemblage Reliefs - Serigraphs, 626 Contemporary Art Gallery

Santa Fe, NM

Mel Ristau, Sculpture - Assemblage Reliefs - Serigraphs, IMMIX Gallery

Dallas, TX

Group Exhibition, Sculpture - Assemblage Reliefs, IMMIX Gallery
Dallas, TX

Mel Ristau, Sculpture - Assemblage Reliefs, Abilene Fine Arts Museum
Abilene, TX

Celebrating Texas Sculpture - 100 Best, Sculpture, Texas Society of Sculptors
Austin, TX

Faculty Exhibition, Sculpture, Clover Virginia Shore Gallery, ACU
Abilene, TX

Faculty Exhibition, Serigraphs, Clover Virginia Shore Gallery, ACU
Abilene, TX

All Texas Exhibition, Assemblage Reliefs, Texas A&M University
College Station, TX

Mel Ristau & Kim Abraham, Assemblage Reliefs - PhotoGraphics, Clover Virginia Shore Gallery, ACU
Abilene, TX



Recent Commissions

return Mel Ristau Selected Works Index Verbe'3 & 4
2009 - two aerial kinetic sculptures, University of Nebraska, Criss Library Atrium and Entry, Omaha, NE

Verbe'2
2008 - - aerial kinetic sculpture, U of C Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Education 1B South Artium, Aurora, CO

The Positive Spirit
2008 - outdoor kinetic sculpture, Fort Collins High School, Colorado

Systems of Interaction
2008 - aerial kinetic sculpture, University of Colorado, Dwire Hall (lobby), Colorado Springs, CO

Possibilities of Place
2008 - aerial kinetic sculpture, Walker Brands, Tampa, FL

Air Play 11
2008, monumental kinetic aerial sculpture, Children’s Medical Center Legacy (lobby) / Plano, TX

Air Garden 9
2007, Children's Specialized Hospital (lobby), New Brunswick, NJ

Air Play 5.7
2007, indoor kinetic aerial sculpture, Methodist Mansfield Hospital, Plano, TX

Spinner 2b
2007, outdoor kinetic sculpture, HMC Architects, Ontario, CA

River Garden 1
2006, monumental aerial kinetic sculpture, Children's Hospital of Atlanta / Scottish Rite (grand atrium),
Atlanta, GA

Red River of Stones
2006, kinetic aerial sculpture, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX

Red Stones 2,
2005, indoor kinetic aerial sculpture, The Architect's Studio, Fort Collins, CO

Red Stones 3
2005, kinetic aerial sculpture, Museum of Contemporary Art (atrium), Fort Collins, CO

Red Peak Stones
2005, aerial kinetic sculpture, RedPeak Properties, Glenarm Place (lobby), Denver, CO

Air Garden 7.2
2005, monumental kinetic aerial sculpture, Thurgood Marshall Elementary (atrium)
Richardson Independent School District, Dallas, TX

Air Garden 7.3-10 (eight variants)
2005, kinetic aerial sculptures, Thurgood Marshall Elementary (light wells)/Richardson Independent School District,
Dallas, TX

Air Garden 1.7
2003, kinetic aerial sculpture, Audelia Creek Elementary / Richardson Independent School District,
Dallas, TX



Related Professional Activities

President/CEO, MediaGarden, Inc., 1994-2000

Principle, Visual Interface Architects, Inc., 1990-93

Assistant Professor, Visual Communications, ACU, 1983-93



Academics

MFA / Information Design (summa cum laude), The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts, Lawrence, KS, 1983

BFA / Painting & Drawing, ACU, 1973




Contact

Address: 8001 Country Farms Ct.
Fort Collins, CO
80528

Phone: 970. 377.3713

Fax: 970. 267.0830

eMail: mel@melristau.com



Press Releases

Air Garden 1.7 "Planted" in New Elementary School
Artist Featured in House & Garden Magazine Explores the Psychology of Happiness In Fort Collins, Colorado Exhibition
Two Kinetic Sculptures Infuse Public Spaces with a Positive Psychology



Client Comments

"Mel Ristau’s artworks are a wonderful addition to the Nebraska 1% for Art collection. The two works he created for us, a centerpiece aerial installation in the main entrance of the University of Nebraska at Omaha Criss Library and a second kinetic work at the lower southeast entrance of the library, were warmly welcomed by the library staff and continue to receive great praise from students and visitors alike. Mel’s dedication to his work and consummate professionalism show brilliantly in his entire artistic process, from his initial application to his completed works. His adept handling of the commission workflow, from interpreting the client’s desires, to examining the site and designing stellar artwork, to final installation, formed a seamless operation for the client from start to finish. The artwork itself is beautiful, interesting, extremely well designed and securely installed. It has an immediate appeal that seems to resonate with everyone, and is built to stand the test of time. I expect these works to remain among the favorites of our collection for years to come."
J.D. Hutton, Director
Nebraska Arts Council"


"Mel is wonderfully creative and a joy to work with."
Jil Rosentrater, Director Art in Public Places
Colorado Council on the Arts


Superbly professional!"
Maeve McGrath
McGrath & Braun Art Consultants, Denver


"Mel Ristau has a masterful understanding of architectural space and the interplay of his art pieces in the three dimensional environment. The professional care, attention to detail, flexibility, and sense-of-humor that Mel demonstrated in creating and installing River Garden 1 for Scottish Rite hospital lobby at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta was outstanding. He is a delight to work with! His mobile brings smiles to the faces of our hospital visitors and staff every day."
Brenda Smith, RID, IIDA
former Design Manager, Facilities Planning & Development
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta


"The crowning showpiece in our new building, Mel's sculpture is pure joy. Upon entering, people walk in, look up, stop, and say "WOW!""
Nancy Walker, President
Walker Brands


"Mel's sculptures are graphically clean, spirited and inventive and have "connected" with students, faculty and parents in a way that is fresh and inviting -- creating delightful focal points that have significantly impacted the effectiveness of our learning environments."
Tony J Guzmam
Managing Architect for Richardson ISD Projects
Dallas county, Texas


"Mel's work... makes a tangible and powerful addition to any environment."
David Tidey, AIA
Corgan Associates, Inc.
Dallas, Texas


"Audelia Creek Elementary School won a Dallas AIA Merit Award (almost unheard of for a public school). Your mobiles were no doubt instrumental in helping the project win this award!"
Joel Efrussy
Corgan Associates, Inc.
Dallas, Texas


"Mel Ristau has embraced technology to create an art form that seems to appeal to all. Whether young or old, an art collector or just a passer-by, everybody is fascinated by Mel's innovative creations."
Glenn Konen, AIA
The Architect's Studio
Fort Collins, Colorado


"A wonderful sculptor that is incredibly professional and enjoyable to work with. His mobile's coloring coordinated beautifully with the surrounding environment, transforming the space — an empty glass box — to appropriate scale and atmosphere for a children's play area."
Amy Thomasson, Interior Designer, ASID
Healthcare Sector, RTKL Associates
Dallas, Texas


"The response has been incredible, it is such a wonderful piece!"
Gena English, RID, AAHID, TAID, Sr Interior Designer
Children's Medical Center
Dallas, Texas


"Signaling the creative activity within and providing a playful invention for our Santa Ana winds, your outdoor sculpture is masterfully crafted, perfectly scaled and sensitive to the slightest breeze. A most rewarding collaboration!"
Jon L. Richardson, LEED AP
HMC /Ontario, California


"A positive experience for all!
Mel is a sculptor that understands architectural space. His colorful kinetic work is immediately engaging -- establishing a welcoming sense of place for all at Children's Medical Center-Legacy."
Robert F Doane, AIA, ACHA
Page Southerland Page / Dallas


"Mel's sculpture is pure delight -- delight for all ages. His work brightens and enlivens our museum's lobby. It is among the most accessible and hospitable artworks in our museum."
Robert C. Manchester, Senior Curator
Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, Montana


"A beautiful addition and most successful collaboration!"
Debbie Lapioli, Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs


"With every new work, Mel gives us poetry -- nurturing a colorful conversation between public and architectural space."
Marina Petric, Architect
Austin, Texas


"Your playful, yet sophisticated sculpture creates an inspirational focal point that exceeds our expectations. Both children and adults are delighted by its stimulating effect."
Dr. Carolyn G. Bukhair, Superintendent
Richardson ISD,
Dallas county, Texas


"I'd like to sit right up there and just fly away."
1st grade student
Audelia Creek Elementary School, Richardson ISD
Dallas county, Texas


"Mel's sculpture exceeds all of our expectations! It's a wonderful addition to our art collection."
Eric and Jan Manasse
Montecito, California


"[Mel Ristau's] pristine works were, clean, serene, gorgeous and popular."
Dallas Review
The Dallas Morning News


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All Images Copyright 2005, Mel Ristau