Melanie Berman (b. 1960, Surrey, UK) is a contemporary abstract artist whose practice explores the relationships between shape, colour, form and space. Her work is informed by her concept of ‘Relational Abstraction’, in which autonomous forms interact, negotiate and establish meaning through their compositional relationships.
Berman initially trained in Fashion Design, gaining a BA in 1979, and began her professional career within the fashion industry. In 2008, she returned to Fine Art, completing a BA (Hons) in Painting at the University for the Creative Arts. This movement between disciplines continues to inform her practice, particularly in her sensitivity to colour, material, structure and composition.
Berman has exhibited in the UK and internationally. Her work has been selected for the ‘Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London’, in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2026, and for the ‘Royal Scottish Academy’ in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Her work was also featured in the ‘Royal Academy Calendar 2021’.
Recent exhibition highlights include the ‘Hong Kong Affordable Art Fair, British Pavilion in which her work was highlighted (2026)’ and The London Art Fair 2026. She has participated in the ‘Beep Painting Biennial, Wales’ (2023, 2024); and the ‘ING Discerning Eye at Mall Galleries, London’. She was long listed for ‘Contemporary British Painting (2024)’ and was awarded the ‘Judge’s Choice – Huge Barclay Award’ at the ‘Jackson’s Painting Prize (2024)’. Other selected achievements include finalist status at the ‘Bankley Open Exhibition (2022) and ‘Lido Open, Margate’.
In 2022, Berman was commissioned by ‘SMC London’ to create multiple artworks for a bespoke luxury project. She has also contributed to charitable exhibitions at the ‘Mall Galleries, London’, including ‘Homes from Home’ in support of the ‘Sick Children’s Trust’, where she additionally helped coordinate the participation of other artists. She has support the Charity ‘Combat Stress’ Secret Postcard for many years at the Bankside Gallery London.
Her practice continues to develop through an ongoing investigation of abstraction, materiality and the relationships between forms, drawing on both the visual language of nature and the intuitive possibilities of colour and composition.