BIOGRAPHY

JEFF MELLIN is an award-winning art/creative director, multidisciplinary artist, writer, and musician. He’s art directed regional culture and news periodicals, designed for historically significant literary and magazine publishers, collaborated and conspired with record labels, rock bands, and avant-garde performers, and helped to build, promote, and elevate an array of cultural non-profits, community groups, start-ups, and upstarts.

As a graphic artist, he’s worked on all kinds of stuff. In Boston, he served as art director for the award-winning Art New England magazine and help start ArtsAround Boston, which was recognized by the Massachusetts governor for “contributions to the Commonwealth” and by the city of Boston with an “ArtsAround Boston Day” proclamation. He has since gone on to win awards for his work with multiple publications in Virginia, design specialty editorial for Scientific American, create history museum installations and videos for the Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco, and design book covers for the notoriously storied City Lights Books.

He’s also collaborated on performance installations in NYC, Boston and Philadelphia, and his Soamel Pictures video collaborations with photographer John Soares have been recognized and awarded at film festivals around the world.

As a songwriter and musician, Jeff cut his troubadour teeth playing anywhere they’d let him — driveways, dormitories, coffeehouses, church basements, galleries and subway stops — from the Massachusetts North Shore to Greenwich Village.

In the 90s, he immersed himself in the Boston music scene, designing album art and posters for bands and labels at his Newbury Street office by day and, by night, fronting a jangly, twangy, mock-n-roll group called the Eddies (along with Jack Dean on drums, Jake Guralnick on guitar and backing vocals, Sam Longley & J.V. McDonough on bass).

Over the years since, he’s released solo mod-folk/indie-pop records including Jeff Mell!n Saves The World, Parts 1ne & 2we (with Andy Pastore & John Clarke of Chaz & the Motorbikes, the Oscillators, and Slide, produced and recorded by Pete Weiss, Joel Mellin, Robert Kempf, & Grammy-winning producer Ducky Carlisle), Good For A Gander (with the Midnight Cowboys and Kristin Mueller, produced by Joel Mellin), Love is Made Of Sky (with members of SHRAG, Orange Nichole, and Doug Yule of the Velvet Underground) and Three On A Match, a concept album inspired by Bette Davis films (with Delicatessen’s Neil Carlill and the late King Toad).

He’s also released singles and special tracks for London’s WIAIWYA Records, including a duet with Jenny Dee (produced by Ed Valauskas), holiday songs (with help from Valerie Vuolo and Lisa Starke), and a moon-landing inspired track with Bryan Bickhart & Blessing Osazuwa as Mock Rockets). His songs have been recorded by indie artists, including Miss Mary, Death by Chocolate, Superdrive and Slide.

Oakland-based poetry press Kolourmeim Press published an anthology of his "literate, Bob Dylan-esque" lyrics. And with his own Pennyring Press, he published a year-long collection of haiku and photographs and a dream-ballad decorated with images adapted and collaged from pre-Raphaelite and 16th century artworks.

With his brother, the NYC-based composer Joel Mellin, he also helped to promote the creativity of others with both Stereorrific Recordings, a small underground pop label, and Waxfruit Arts Media, Inc., a not-for-profit organization co-founded to support and create projects connecting indie music with other media arts and the community at large. Somehow they managed to coordinate projects with artists in the US, Europe, and South America.

Now based in the Philadelphia area, he continues to work and collaborate with creative people from all over.

READ JEFF'S ARTIST STATEMENT  >>

READ JEFF'S ARTIST STATEMENT  >>

“…creative genius…”

— Chester County Ramblings

“So grateful for Jeff Mellin’s ability to elevate a project.”

— Jane Murray, Ardmore Initiative

“I’d definitely get Jeff Mellin, who’s responsible for the beauty that is the What’s Good cover, to work his magic as he saw fit.”

— Daniel Levin Becker, author

"Few Art Directors or Graphic Designers as so attentive to and understanding of the content and spirit of the project. Each sketch or finished work we receive from Jeff makes us say, yes, that's EXACTLY what we mean! The popularity of our print materials alone has increased so greatly we've already doubled -- and then tripled -- our baseline print runs. Some of the best graphic design work I've ever seen."

— Anna Naruta, Chinese Historical Society of America

"I have worked with many designers and Jeff is heads and shoulders above them all. He is a perfectionist who strives for -- and achieves -- excellence with every design."

— Kristen De Deyn Kirk, Port Folio Weekly

"An almost appalling inventiveness.... continues to amaze me with every new listen."

— Butch & Brenda, The Noise

"...catchy and diverse... a listener can’t help but hear snatches of Crowded House, a '60s Turtles vibe, a cheery side of the Velvet Underground, a bit of Paul McCartney bass and even some Dylanesque vocals and lyrical images."

— Ames Arnold, Style Weekly

"...infectious melodic jangle pop and swamp folk..." --

— All Music Guide

"...inventive, original, retro and refreshing... Pinch me, I must be dreaming!"

— Jordan Catalano, The Noise

C.V.

INSTALLATIONS/EXHIBITS

2023   Windows Into History: Explore Historic Ardmore, Ardmore, PA. An ongoing “pop-up museum” collaboration with the Ardmore Initiative, Lower Merion Historical Society, Lower Merion Conservancy, and Lower Merion Township, celebrating the Ardmore Sesquicentennial.

2014   City Squared: Philadelphia Abstralographs, Millésimé, Philadelphia PA. Exhibit of Semi-abstract photographs

2013     Time Never Forgets, Millésimé, Philadelphia PA. Multi-projector Abstract video installation, in conjunction with Design Philadelphia Festival

2011     Together/Apart, Hartwick College, NY. Collaboration with Joel Mellin & Catherine Hedberg. Large format, stylized photo portraits illuminated in synchronicity with a computer music composition.

2010    Vortex, Chocolate Factory Theater, NYC. Collaboration with Joel Mellin, Catherine Hedberg, Faurot + Paulson. Site-specific installation for avant garde music performance. "Live" version of Together/Apart.

2009    A View From A Window From The Outside, National Mechanics, Phila. PA. Collaboration with Joel Mellin, John Soares, Faurot + Paulson, Jodi Melnick

1999    Why/POP?, CyberArts Festival, Boston MA. Collaboration with Interrelated Arts Foundation

FILM FESTIVALS

2022    Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Video Short, Best Music Video, Stockholm City Film Festival. Co-Director, Writer, Editor. With John Soares & Sofia Baliakhova

2012    Dark Victory, Video Short, Official Selection, New York Independent Film Festival. Co-Director, Writer, Editor. With John Soares & Niki Luparelli

2012    The Shabby Dress, Video Short, Official Selection, Phila. Independent Film Fest. Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor. With Xan Kaplan, et al.

2012    Tumblebee, Video Short, Official Selection, Arlington International Film Festival. Editor. With John Soares & John Clarke.

2011    Dark Victory, Video Short, Official Selection, Phila. Independent Film Festival. Co-Director, Writer, Editor. With John Soares & Niki Luparelli

PANELS, COMMITTEES, etc.

2022-Present   Ardmore Initiative Streetscape Committee, “Window Into History: Explore Historic Ardmore” Sub-committee co-chair

2013    Screening Panel Member Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival

2010    Judge for the 35th Annual Connecticut Art Directors Club Awards. With Ophelia Chong, Brett Yancy Collins & Monica Hargrove

2010-12 Senior Portfolio Reviewer, Art Institute of Philadelphia, Philadelphia PA

2005    What Makes a Great Rock & Roll Photograph?, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA. Panelist/speaker on the topic with Nirvana/Sub-Pop photographer Charles Peterson

1995    Guest speaker the topic of Album Cover Design, Mass. Communications College

DESIGN AWARDS/HONORS

2005 Virginia Press Association Awards

• 1st place – Cover Design, Port Folio Weekly

• 2nd place – Cover Design, Ninevolt Magazine

• 3rd place – Design & Presentation, Port Folio Weekly

2004 Virginia Press Association Awards

• 1st place – Cover Design, Ninevolt

• 1st place – Design & Presentation, Port Folio Weekly

• 2nd place – Special Section Design, Tidewater Parent Baby Guide

1999 Recognized by Gov. Paul Celluci for “contributions to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts”  for work with ArtsAround Boston magazine

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

2012    Chorus Vs. Solos: a Tribute to Charlie Chesterman. Executive Producer. Compilation to benefit Friends of Charlie Chesterman fund

2006    Waxfruit/Flicktracks Independent Music Library

2004    Pop Eye View: The Popstar Photography of John Soares, The Norva, Norfolk VA

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Soamel Pictures. Video collaborations with John Soares. Director, Editor, Photographer (2010-PRESENT)

Waxfruit® Arts Media, Inc. NYC-based not-for-profit established to connect & promote musicians & artists of various media. Co-founder/Board member (2006-2016)

Stereorrific™ Recordings. International underground independent record label/promotional support umbrella. Co-founder/Art Director/Producer/Artist (1998–PRESENT?). Directed photography and layout for artist branding, promotion, packaging

SONGWRITING / PERFORMING

Skin & Bones: A Collection of Lyrics, Kolurmeim Press, Oakland CA, 2006. Anthology of song lyrics published by Bay area poetry press

2011    Three On A Match, Audio Recording, Stereorrific Recordings. A concept album inspired by Bette Davis films. With Neil Carlill (Delicatessen) and the late King Toad).

2010    Love Is Made Of Sky, Audio Recording, dpulse/Stereorrific Recordings. With John Clarke (Legendary Motorbikes), Doug Yule (Velvet Underground), Helen King snd Steph Goodman (SHRAG), Nichole Ferree (Orange Nichole). Produced and recorded by Pete Weiss, Joel Mellin and Jeff.

2001    Good For A Gander, Audio Recording, Stereorrific Recordings

1998    Jeff Mellin Saves The World, Parts 1ne & 2we, Audio Recording, Stereorrific Recordings

1993-1997 The Eddies, Rock & Roll group

1994-present BMI affiliated songwriter and publisher

COMMERCIAL/GRAPHIC ART & DESIGN

Art direction for periodicals and special publications including Scientific American, Port Folio Weekly, ArtsAround Boston and Art New England.

Work for publishers, non-profits, artists, arts organizations, science and high tech, and product packaging projects. Clients include City Lights (Michael McClure, Charles Bukowski), Chinese Historical Society of America, H.B. Hunter Foods, Princeton Center (Mobil, Delta)

Work with countless indie artists and labels to help them define their identity and realize their personal vision. Clients include Upstart/Rounder (Nick Lowe, Los Straitjackets, Upper Crust, Dennis Brennan), Q Divison (Buffalo Tom, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Jenny Dee), Signature Sounds (Mark Erelli), Slow River/Ryko (Charlie Chesterman), wiaiwya, dren records, planting seeds records, ...

More details available at LinkedIn.
 

EDUCATION

Livingston College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ

• Bachelor of Arts with Honors

• Major in English, minor in Political Science

• Coursework in Art History and Fine Art

• Editorial Illustrator, editor and writer for multiple campus periodicals

• Paul Robeson Honors Scholar