Melanie Vugich
Contemporary Australian Still Life Painter
Melanie Vugich’s still life paintings are a joyful celebration of colour, form and the quiet beauty found in everyday objects. Her richly detailed compositions often feature fresh flowers, fruit, vintage textiles and handmade ceramics – arranged with care and painted with a deep appreciation for pattern, texture and harmony.
Guided by intuition and emotion, Melanie’s work reflects her unique ability to elevate the ordinary into something poetic. Each painting invites viewers to slow down and rediscover the richness in life’s small moments – an overflowing vase, a sun-dappled table or a beautifully imperfect bloom. Her distinctive style, vibrant palette and refined sense of composition have earned her a loyal following among collectors and design lovers, both in Australia and internationally.
Originally from Australia, Melanie began drawing at a young age and always knew she wanted to be an artist. Her passion for creativity led her to Florence, Italy, where she lived for 25 years, working as a fabric designer and immersing herself in the city’s dynamic artistic community. She painted constantly, travelled throughout Europe and exhibited in countless solo and group exhibitions.
Now based in the seaside suburb of Bronte, in Sydney’s east, Melanie continues her daily practice of painting and ocean swimming. Inspired by the natural beauty of the coast and the objects she surrounds herself with, her work is a vibrant reflection of a life deeply connected to colour, creativity and the art of seeing.
Running free as a child in the outback town of Broken Hill gave Melanie a lasting love of nature – a love that continues to influence her work to this day, infusing her still life paintings with a sense of freedom, connection and place.
Melanie Vugich - April, June 2025.
Group Exhibition Domestic Goddess, April 2022.
Melanie Vugich in her studio, photograph by Jordan Wheatley.