Melissa Haiden, The space between ribs , 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 shaped by a fascination with strong dualities—navigating the space between voyeurism and exhibitionism, contentment and chaos, and the private versus the public.

Drawing on her background in physical performance, Haiden’s work is inherently interdisciplinary, shifting fluidly between mediums. While she works in video, live performance, oils, acrylics, and sketching, her pieces are united by a visceral engagement with form, gesture, and emotional tension.

The Space Between Ribs embodies this exploration, its layered acrylic and charcoal surfaces evoking the intimate yet unspoken space between vulnerability and strength.