Melissa Haiden, M(other, Acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 2022

Melissa Haiden graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2009 with an Honours Degree in Theatre and Performance. Her practice is driven by the exploration of sharp dualities—shifting between voyeurism and exhibitionism, contentment and chaos, and the intimate tension of the private versus the public self.

With a foundation in physical performance, Haiden works across disciplines, moving between video, live performance, oils, acrylics, and sketching. Her pieces often carry a physical immediacy, translating human movement, emotion, and fragility into layered, tactile compositions.

M(other) distills these qualities into a poignant study of connection, identity, and the complexities of maternal relationships.