Melissa (Tshikamba) is an Illustrator and figurative artist currently based in Utah with a Bachelor of Fine Art in illustration. A love of sacred imagery, the divine feminine, abstract realism, history, the ethereal, African symbols, mythology, cosmology, Mother Nature, and her ancestral heritage inspires her art. Her main mediums are 22 karat gold leaf and oil, and she brings texture and depth to her pieces with sculpture and resin. She combines traditional African patterns and cultures with the modern contemporary, often incorporating circles, bees, and gold into her work—representative of eternity, matriarchy, royalty, light, and empowerment. She hopes to instill a message of self-love and acceptance to all those who view her art.