Houston artist Melody Locke creates art that exists at the intersection of nature and imagination, where the ordinary transforms into something otherworldly. Working with both traditional and non-camera photographic processes, she creates images that evoke the quiet mystery of dreams, memory, and time. Whether developing black-and-white film in a wet darkroom or exposing botanical materials to sunlight, her prints shimmer with light, color, and emotion.
Central to her alternative practice is the lumen print—a camera-less photographic process in which leaves, petals, and other natural elements are placed on photographic paper and exposed to sunlight. The resulting compositions, often abstract and unpredictable, appear to bloom from within. Familiar forms dissolve into ghostly impressions, echoing the fleeting beauty of the natural world. Each print is a poetic study in light and decay, presence and absence.
A graduate of the University of Houston, Melody has been affiliated with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Glassell School of Art since 2007. Though her roots are in traditional photography, her work embraces experimentation, exploring the emotional potential of photographic materials and the organic subjects she collects.
Melody’s studio is located at Silver Street Studios in Houston’s Arts District, where she welcomes visitors during open studios on the second and third Saturdays of each month or by appointment. A California native and proud Texan since her early teens, she now lives in the historic Houston Heights with her husband and their cat, who rules the roost. Melody is also an active member of several arts organizations, including Women in the Visual and Literary Arts (WiVLA), Texas Photographic Society, and the Houston Visual Artists Network.
Whether capturing a landscape or the subtle form of a flower, Melody Locke invites viewers to slow down and look closely. Her work blurs the line between the real and the imagined, reminding us that wonder often lies just beyond what we see.
Watch her 2025 interview with Diana Clarke.
Memberships
Women in the Visual and Literary Arts (WiVLA), Alternative Photography, supporting member; Visual Arts Alliance, Texas Photographic Society, Conroe Art League, Galveston Art League, Pixels + Silver, American Society of Media Photographers, Houston Art Society, Women’s Caucus for Art-Texas, Houston Visual Artist Network, Brazosport Art League.
CV/Resume
See Events for information about current exhibitions.
Solo Exhibitions
2026 Luminous Memory, March 2 – April 10, 2026, Performing Arts Center at Lee College, a Fotofest 2026 Participating Space exhibition. Opening Reception: Saturday, March 7th, 5-7 PM. Artist talk and workshop: March 24, 2026, 1-3 PM.
2025 Lumen-essence, September 30 – November 18, Cloister Gallery, Houston, TX. Reception: October 2, 2025.
2025 Dreamscape, April 5 – May 14, The Jung Center, Houston
2024 WALL FLWRZ, Silver Street Studios West Gallery, Houston, TX.
2021 Along the Boulevard, Silver Street Studios West Galley, Houston, TX.
2020 Along the Boulevard, A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX.
Juried Exhibitions
2025 Due Calle (1st Place), Looking Up! (2nd Place), Rest Stop (3rd Place), Houston Art Society Fall Judge Show; Susan Sheets, juror.
2025 Spring Wishes I, Sabine Street Studios. “Visual Arts Alliance 41st Annual Juried Member Exhibition.” Juror, Michael Golden.
2025 Rest Stop and 20th-Century Pastime, The Hummingbird & Dragonfly Art Gallery, “Black and White 2025” juried exhibition.
2025 Lily and Rose (1HM), Lilies and Canterbury Bells, Morning at Bow Lake (HM), Spring Wishes I (HM). CAL Fall 2025 Judged Show: Susan Sheets, juror.
2025 Mighty Oaks on Heights, KBM Art Gallery, “Awesome Autumn” juried exhibition.
2025 Looking Up! and Petal Party, Women in the Visual and Literary Arts (WiVLA), “RISE Juried Exhibition” at Sabine Street Studios, Fran Ellisor, juror.
2025 Morning at Bow Lake, “Water ~ Sky” International Juried Photography Exhibition at Praxis Gallery, Praxis Gallery Directors, jurors.
2025 Tranquility Park Fountain, “Grayscale: A Picture Show,” exhibition at Black Box Gallery, Todd Johnson, juror. Catalog.
2025 Lilies and Canterbury Tales, First Iris, and Lily and Rose, “Wholeness is a Myth,” Kaima Marie Akarue, juror.
2025 Stone’s Throw, First Place, Three Orchids, Honorable Mention, “Lone Star Art Guild 2025 Show,” June 14, Andre Bally, juror.
2025 Yo Ho National Park III, “2025 Student Exhibition,” Glassell School of Art.
2025 Yo Ho National Park III, “Focus: Trees and Water” exhibition at Black Box Gallery, Todd Johnson, juror. Catalog
2025 Midnight Oaks, “Abstraction” Exhibition at the Ardest Gallery, Nick Barbee, juror; awarded third-place ribbon.
2025 Stone’s Throw, “A Tribute to Water” Exhibition at The Mexican Cultural Institute.
2025 Myrtle and Lily, “CAL International 2025,” The Madeley Fine Art Gallery, Zaeed Kala, juror.
2024 Lush Lilies (First Place, Photography), Stone’s Throw (Second Place, Photography), Narcissus Quintet (Third Place, Photography), Luminos Lilium (First Honorable Mention, Photography), “Houston Art Society’s Fall Show,” Fran Ellisor, juror.
2024 Stone’s Throw, Travel Dreams, “Photo Artfolio.”
2024 Stone’s Throw (First Place, Photography), Three Orchids (Second Place, Photography), Amaryllis Sunset I (Best Floral), “CAL Fall 2024 Judged Show.” Lee Steffy, Juror.
2024 Stone’s Throw, Scenic 2024-4th Annual Juried Exhibition. Exhibizone Exhibitions. (book)
2024 Baby Pecan, Cloister Gallery. “ARBOREA” exhibition, Women’s Caucus for Art-Texas.
2024 Fun Guy I and Treeflection I, Silver Street Studios. “Paradox” exhibition, Alton DuLaney, juror.
2024 Leaves on Grass and Three Orchids, Ardest Gallery. “Abstraction” exhibition, Terry Suprean, juror.
2024 Amaryllis Sunset I, Redbud Arts Center. Visual Arts Alliance “40th Juried Membership Exhibition,” Redbud Arts Center, Tanja Peterson, juror.
2024 Treeflection I, Lone Star Art Guild “2024 Art Show,” Fran Ellisor, juror. Awarded first-place ribbon, Professional Photography category.
2024 Two Lilies and Lily Bouquet, Houston Art Society Open Spring Art Show, Linda Vanek, judge. Awarded first and second-place ribbons, respectively, in the Abstract/Experimental/Non-Objective Art category.
2024 Bluebonnets and Back Roads, Praxis Photographic Arts Center, “On the Road Again” exhibition, judged by Dallas Crow.
2024 19th Century Pastime, Praxis Photographic Arts Center, “Black &White” exhibition, juried by Elizabeth Flinsch; awarded Juror’s Honorable Mention.
2024 six lumen prints, Performing Arts Center at Lee College. “Glassell School of Art Fotofest exhibition,” juried by Lisa Volpe, Amy Blakemore, and Will Michels.
2024 Shipboard Wedding, Praxis Photographic Arts Center, “Family Photos – Memory | Identity | Artifact” exhibition, curated by Praxis Directors.
2024 Sunday Mornings, Praxis Photographic Arts Center, “Home” exhibition, curated by Praxis Directors.
2024 Cypress at Dawn, Conroe Art League, Madeley Gallery “CAL International 2024,” Patrick Saunders, juror.
Juried Exhibitions Before 2024
2023 Treeflection I, Conroe Art League Fall, Madeley Gallery “2023 Exhibition,” Anat Ronan, juror. Awarded a second-place ribbon.
2023 Amaryllis Sunset I, Flutter Lilies, Lilies and Flutters, Amaryllis Effusion II, Women in the Visual and Literary Arts (WiVLA), “Expansion” exhibition, POST Houston, Elena Lopez Poirot, juror.
2023 Downtown Cafe and Rodeo Time. Ardest Gallery. “Noun: People, Places, Things” exhibition, Shung Kuan Chung, juror.
2023 Amaryllis Sunset I, Purple Lilies, Garden Ballet, and Mexican Trinity Sycamore Patterns. Ardest Gallery. “Abstraction” exhibition, Annette Parker, Juror.
2023 Treeflection II, Lawndale Art Center; John M. O’Quinn & Cecily E Horton Galleries; “The Big Show,” Dr. Kanitra Fletcher, Juror.
2023 Magnolia Leaves I and Magnolia Leaves II, Ardest Gallery, “Bloom” exhibition, Julie Verville, juror.
2023 Leaves on Grass. Conroe Art League, Madeley Gallery, “CAL International 2023” exhibition, Annette Parker, Juror.
2022 Treeflection II and Three Lilies, Winter Street Studios, “Dreamscapes” exhibition, Annette Parker, Juror.
2022 Waiting and Downtown Cafe, Square Gallery, International Photography Exhibition, BLACK&WHITE “STREETS.”
2022 Leaves on Grass, Archway Gallery, “14th Annual Juried Exhibition,” Rosa Ana Orlando, Juror.
2022 Treeflection II, PhotoPlace Gallery, “Trees” exhibition; Wendi Schneider, Juror. (catalog)
2022 Treeflection I, Southeast Center for Photography, “Botanical” exhibition; Wendi Schneider, Juror. (catalog)
2022 Treeflection I, Hardy & Nance Studios, “Plantasia: A Botanical Exhibition;” Hardy & Nance jurors.
2022 Treeflection II, A Smith Gallery, Trees exhibition; Kevin Tully, juror. (catalog)
2022 Purple Lilies, Visual Arts Alliance 38th Juried Membership Exhibition, Sabine Street Studios; Lester Marks, Mayor’s Ambassador to the Arts, Houston, TX, Juror.
Narcissus in Red and Three Tulips V, Women in the Visual and Literary Arts (WiVLA). “Awakening” exhibition, Virtual; Rosa Ana Orlando, Juror.
2021 Strolling Through the Houston Arboretum, MFAH Glassell School of Art, 2021 Student Exhibition; Jan Harrell, Live Johnson, and Brian Portman, Jurors.
2020 Trident Maple on the Boulevard, Kinder Morgan Exhibition Series: “Fall” exhibition at Kinder Morgan, in conjunction with Glassell School of Art.
2020 Moonlit Garden and Leaves on Grass, Visual Arts Alliance 37th Juried Membership Exhibition, Virtual; Shana Nys Dambrot, Curator and Art Critic, LA Weekly, Los Angeles, Juror.
2020 Trident Maple on Heights and Lilies and Roses for Dad, Visual Arts Alliance, “13th Juried Invitational Exhibition.” Juror Volker Eisele, Director/Founder ArtScan, Juror.
2020 Cypress Trees at Mercer Arboretum and Vasquez Rocks III, Hardy and Nance Studios, “Ratio Redux,” an exhibition of photographs created with traditional and alternative photographic processes.
2019 Tulips in Tulle Vase, “Flora,” SE Center for Photography. Kate Breakey, Juror.
2019 Roses for Dad, Archway Gallery, Eleventh Annual Juried Exhibition; Penny Cerling, Juror.
2019 Angel’s Trumpet I, Visual Arts Alliance, 36th Juried Open Exhibition; Christine Jelson West, Houston First, Cultural Programs Manager, Juror.
2019 Lilies and Roses for Dad, “Midsummer Light” exhibition, Women in the Visual and Literary Arts. Cloister Gallery at Christ Church Cathedral. Valentina Atkinson, Owner, Serrano Gallery, Juror.
2019 Cypress Trees at Mercer, “Student Exhibition.” Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Susan Budge, Charlotte Cosgrove, and Suzanne Manns, Jurors.
2019 Angel’s Trumpet I. “Alternative Processes and Integrated Media Competition,” Texas Photographic Society. Christopher James, University Professor and Director of the MFA in Photography and Integrated Media program at Lesley University – College of Art and Design in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Juror.
2018 20th Century Pastime, A Smith Gallery Forgotten exhibition; Blue Mitchell, Juror. Recipient of Director’s Honorable Mention. (catalog)
2018 Three Tulips IV, “Floral” exhibition at Kinder Morgan, in conjunction with Glassell School of Art.
2018 Tulips in Tulle Vase, Visual Arts Alliance. “36th Juried Membership Exhibition,” Silver Street Studios, Laura Rathe, Juror.
2017 Lilies and Tulle, A Smith Gallery “Unique: Alternative Processes” exhibition. Christina Z. Anderson, Series Editor for Focal Press/Routledge’s Contemporary Practices in Alternative Process Photography series and Professor of Photography at Montana State University, Juror. (catalog)
2017 Loquat Pearls, Loquat Mist, Poinsettia Dance, Women in the Visual and Literary Arts (WiVLA); “Abundant” exhibition; Cloisters Gallery at Christ Church Cathedral; John Runnels, Director Co-Founder at MotherDog Studios, Juror
2017 Rush Hour, Glassell School of Art Student Exhibition in conjunction with Kinder Morgan.
Group Exhibitions
2025 Seasons, Outreach Center of West Houston, Houston, Texas.
2025 The Rhythm of Color, Outreach Center of West Houston, Houston, Texas
2025 Creative Expressions, Cultural Arts Center, Temple, Texas.
2025 Maritime Time, Houston Maritime Center & Museum, Houston, Texas.
2025 Artists Showcase, The Center for the Arts and Sciences.
2025 Center of Mind, Outreach Center of West Houston
2025 2025 Student Exhibition: Glassell School of Art.
2025 Visions: The Jung Center’s 2025 Community Art Show, curated by Rosalinda González.
2025 Visual Symphony: The Salon Revisited, Silver Street Studios
2025 The Power of Art, Blue Prolific Studio Gallery.
2025 Mirror: Mirror Campus Exhibition, Spring Street Studios.
2024 Visual Journey, Silver Street Studios
2024 Art on the Avenue-invitational, Spring Street Studios, awarded Juried Artist, Michael Healey, juror.
2024 Small Works Invitational, Lee College PAC, curated by Elena Lopez Poirot.
2024 Salon d’Été, Silver Street Studios.
2024 Visions: The Jung Center’s 2024 Community Art Show, curated by Rosalinda González.
2024 Dual Perspectives–Annual Invitational Exhibition, Spring Street Studios
2024 HOM, FotoFest Participating Space, curated by Joe Aker.
Group Exhibitions Before 2024
2023 Home, Silver Street Studios, curated by Heather Braman.
2023 Analog Photography exhibition, Glassell School of Art.
2023 Technological Reverie: Unveiling Utopia, curated by Megan Olivia Ebel.
2023 Art: A Visual Language, curated by Cheri Randolph.
2023 Salon d’Art, Silver Street Studios.
2023 Texas Heat, Women’s Caucus for Art, Texas, curated by Harry Sargent; Brazosport Art League.
2023 Beginnings, Silver Street Studios, Rosa Ana Orlando, Curator.
2022 Open Doors, Silver Street Studios, Wayne Gilbert, Curator.
2022 Art on the Avenue, Winter Street Studios, one print juried into gallery by Danielle Burns Wilson, juror and curator.
2022 FotoFest Group Exhibition: Light Around the World, Joe Aker, Curator. St. Andrews Church, Houston, TX.
2022 Arrival, Silver Street Studios, Alton DuLaney, Curator.
2022 Progress/Progresso, Silver Street Studios, Armando Rodriguez, Curator.
2022 Salon d’Art, Silver Street Studios.
2022 Art Celebrates the Story, Spring Street Studios-Invitational Exhibition. Cheri Haley Randolph, Curator.
2021 Without Limits, Silver Street Studios, December 4, 2021 – March 19, 2022.
2021 Nature, MFAH Glassell School of Art.
2021 The Sum of Us, Silver Street Studios. June 5 – August 21, 2021.
2021 Silver Street Studios. The Artists of Silver Street. March 26- May 24, 2021.
2020 Wabi-Sabi, Silver Street Studios. Lorena Morales, Curator; December 5, 2020 – March 13, 2021.
2020 Beautiful World — Beautiful People, “Lilies and Roses for Dad,” Cloister Gallery at Christ Church Cathedral. Joe Aker, Curator.
2020 #NewReality, Silver Street Studios, Maria Chevez, Curator.
2020 Bay 300 (FotoFest 2020), The Silos at Sawyer Yards.
2020 Discovering Repeating Patterns, Spring Street Studios. Cheri Haley Randolph, curator.
2019 My Favorite Photo from 2019, Roses for Dad, Glassell School of Art.
2019 I Knew I Was an Artist When, The Silos at Sawyer Yards Studios.
2014 Student Exhibition in conjunction with FotoFest 2014, Perimeter Gallery, Glassell School of Art Studio.
2013 Annual Glassell Studio School Student Exhibition, Glassell School of Art.
2012 A Walk in the Woods, Annual Glassell Studio School Student Exhibition.
2012 The Witch is Dead, Perimeter Gallery, Glassell Studio Student Exhibition in conjunction with FotoFest 2012.
Collaborative Projects
2025 Petals and Paper, “Creative Fusion,” an exhibition celebrating the power of shared creativity. Winter Street Studios.
2024 Lily and Myrtle, “ENTANGLED Collaboration,” Women in the Visual and Literary Arts Collaboration. Sabine Street Studios. (catalog)
2022 Treeflection II, “REFLECTION Collaboration,” Lee College. (catalog)
2020 Rescued!, “Compassion Collaboration,” Women in the Visual and Literary Arts, Biennial Collaboration, Houston Holocaust Museum. (catalog)
2018 Hiding Space, S P A C E Collaboration, Women in the Visual and Literary Arts, Biennial Collaboration. Houston Public Library, Jesse H Jones Building, first-floor gallery. (catalog)
Publications
2026 “American Artwork 2026.”
2025 “Synkroniciti” featured visual artist, Winter 2025-2026.
2025 Bold Journey. September 3, 2025.
2025 “American Artwork 2025.”
2024 Butterfly Kisses II, 2nd Annual International Group Exhibitions, Gardenia 2024.
2024 Voyage Houston. Local Stories: July 2, 2024. Check Out Melody Locke’s Story.
Awards
2019 Recipient of a scholarship at Glassell School of Art for the Spring 2020 semester.
2009: Recipient of the Ruth Pershing Uhler Scholarship at Glassell School of Art.