Sketch for Wishing on Disappearing Stars
Gausden approaches these works on paper with an immediacy and intimacy that holds the heart of her ideas. The spontaneity this process allows her to exhibit means the artist can take chances, experimenting with colour, shape, and form - ultimately shaping the resulting canvas. Gausden views these as finished pieces in their own right, which allow the viewer to learn more about her practice.
Framed size: 13 x 13 in.
"This piece [along with Stamp River] grew out of time spent at Stamp River. To reach the trails I walked through the quiet campground, where only a few men were camped alone. It made me acutely aware, as I often am when outdoors by myself, of that ingrained vigilance women carry. Still, I felt it was important to claim that space, to push against the discomfort and find a sense of belonging in it. And, of course, I couldn’t resist the pull of the fish ladder and the potential of seeing the salmon jump. " - Mel Gausden, 2025
Mel Gausden is a contemporary Canadian painter whose evocative works explore the shifting terrain of personal and cultural identity through a striking fusion of self-portraiture and landscape painting. Drawing from the visual language of Canadiana, Gausden reimagines familiar symbols - vast terrains, national motifs, and collective memories - into bold, emotionally charged compositions that resonate with both local and international audiences.
Working primarily in oil, Gausden’s paintings are immediately recognizable for their dynamic interplay between texture and gesture. She alternates between richly sculptural impasto - where paint is built up into tactile, matchstick-like formations and fluid, painterly passages where diluted pigments cascade across the canvas with deliberate control. This duality creates a sense of tension and movement, inviting viewers to engage not only visually but physically with the surface of the work.
Central to Gausden’s process is time. Her imagery often originates from photographs or impressions that are left to evolve over years, allowing nostalgia to reshape their meaning. As these memories settle and transform, they become the foundation for her compositions - imbued with both intimacy and ambiguity. The resulting paintings feel at once deeply personal and universally relatable, capturing the elusive nature of how we remember, interpret, and reconstruct our past.
Gausden received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from OCAD University and is based in Hamilton, Ontario. Her work has been exhibited widely and is held in private and corporate collections.