Melissa Jane Zink

Melissa Zink, one of the most prominent New Mexico artists of the last 30 years, died July 17th in Taos. She was 77. Born in Kansas City, MO, she was educated at Emma Willard School in Troy, NY; Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA; University of Chicago, and Kansas City Art Institute. Her paintings, sculpture and mixed media works, much of which was inspired by her great love of books and what she termed the "book experience"' was exhibited in galleries and museums around the country and is included in may prestigious public and private collections. In 2000 Zink was honored by the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, as the New Mexico representative in their "From the States" exhibition. In 2001 she was the recipient of the State of New Mexico's "Governor's Award for Excellence and Achievement in the Arts". A major retrospective exhibition was presented in 2006 at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, and that same year the book, 'Melissa Zink, the Language of Enchantment, by Hollis Walker, was published by New Mexico Magazine Press. For many years her exclusive gallery representative has been Parks Gallery in Taos. A memorial exhibition of her art, "Melissa Zink: Her Singular World", will open September 18 at the Taos Art Museum and Fechin House. Melissa Zink leaves her husband, Nelson Zink of Taos, her daughter Mallery Downs and husband Robert of Albuquerque, grandson Christopher Downs of Denver, and her sister Susan Rosa of Chicago, IL. Family requests donations to the Humane Society of Taos in lieu of flowers.