Through painting, assemblage, sculpture, textile, performance, photography, and writing she explores the subconscious, identity as interwoven with the natural environment, and the collective uncanny as a result of climate change.

In addition to her practice, she collaborates with her partner, Christopher Santiago as Phantasmata, making artwork and organizing projects such as co-curating Dream Alliance at ChaShaMa (NY, NY) based on an interdisciplinary journal issue of the Anthropology of Consciousness which they guest co-edited (Fall 2023.)

Melinda holds an MFA from SUNY Purchase College, a BS in Studio Art from Skidmore College, and an Advanced Certificate in Art Education from Hofstra University. Melinda has completed residences at Wave Hill, Eco Practicum, Ox Bow, SVA, ChaNorth, USI, Swale House & AIR Byrdcliffe. Recent exhibitions and performance venues in New York include PS122 Gallery, SEPTEMBER Gallery, Studio 9D, An/aesthetics Rosekill, Flux Factory, ChaShaMa, School of Visual Arts, LABspace, AIR Gallery, The Wassaic Project, Unison Arts Center, Equity Gallery, Foxtrot Farm & Flowers, Lake George Arts, Kleinert/James Center for the Art, Secret Project Robot, College of Staten Island Gallery, Flowers for All Occasions (solo), and HiLo (solo as Phantasmata). Relevant press includes Hyperallergic and Chronogram. She has recently been a guest critic and speaker at Parsons School of Design and University of New Mexico (Taos & Albuquerque).