Melissa Hefferlin - Bio

Melissa Hefferlin grew up in the countryside outside of Chattanooga, TN. She studied at the The Academy of Fine Arts (Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture) in St. Petersburg, Russia, under Andrei Mylnikov , from 1990 to 1991. Hefferlin was the only American to study at that academy during the Soviet period, and was preceded only by James Whistler, who studied there in 1884. She also attended the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga under Alan White, and Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, where she apprenticed with painter Michael Newberry.

Currently, Hefferlin exhibits with the Miller Gallery, in Cinn., OH and with Gallery 1401, Chattanooga, TN. During Sept., 2007, she has a piece awarded Prize of Excellence at the Pastel Society of America national juried exhibition in NYC.

The city of Chattanooga chose Hefferlin to paint the commemorative mural to celebrate the opening of the 21st Century Waterfront Development. In 2002, the Hunter Museum of American Art presented a solo show of Hefferlin’s work. That same year Hefferlin received the grand purchase award from Seimens at the Art For Healing exhibition presented by the Association for Visual Arts. Hefferlin has exhibited in Zurich, London, New York, Los Angeles, Denver and around the Tennessee region. In 2003, Hefferlin and her artist husband, Daud Akhriev, were selected for a six-week residency as guests of Maine’s MacNamara Foundation. She is an exhibiting member of Oil Painters of America.

Hefferlin has guest-taught at the University of Tennessee. In 1999 she co-wrote a coffee table book about Russian painting, Traditions Rediscovered, the Finley Collection of Russian Art. She has lectured on Russian art history. She speaks Russian fluently. Hefferlin is a board member of Association for Visual Arts.