Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Allison
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As an artist, I’ve always understood the challenges of navigating the creative world—finding opportunities, building connections, and getting the support needed to grow. I started as a mixed-media artist with a background in modeling, but over time, I realized that success in the art world isn’t just about talent—it’s also about having a network of people who uplift and support each other. That realization led me to create Girl Flock Party.
Girl Flock Party began as an extension of my online gallery but quickly evolved into something much bigger—a boutique women’s network focused on connection, mentorship, and empowerment. What started as a single gala event for networking, brand awareness, and fundraising has grown into a year-round community where women can come together, share their experiences, and support one another in both business and creativity.
Through Girl Flock Party, we host cozy social events, provide peer mentorship, and foster camaraderie among women in the Austin area. One of the aspects I’m most proud of is our annual woman-owned business scholarship, which directly supports female entrepreneurs in achieving their goals.
My journey has been one of both personal and artistic evolution, but what has remained constant is my passion for creativity and community. Girl Flock Party is a reflection of that—bringing women together to uplift, inspire, and create opportunities for one another. It has been an incredible experience to build something that not only supports my own artistic journey but also provides a platform for others to thrive.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Girl Flock Party was built out of passion and a genuine desire to create a supportive community, but not being an official business or nonprofit has made it difficult to be taken seriously in some spaces. It’s been a challenge to secure sponsorships or collaborate with larger organizations, which often look for structured entities to partner with. Because of that, I’ve personally invested thousands of dollars into our events to keep them going.
Financially, it’s been a labor of love, but beyond that, attendance and engagement can sometimes be unpredictable. Building a community takes time, and there have been moments where turnout was lower than expected or engagement wasn’t as strong as I’d hoped. Those moments can be discouraging, but I remind myself why I started Girl Flock Party—to create something meaningful for women who need support, just like I did.
As an artist, another challenge has been balancing my creative work with running this group. Inspiration is everything in art, and there have been times when I’ve had to put my own work on the back burner to focus on Girl Flock Party. It’s a trade-off, and while I love what I’ve built, I also know how important it is to make space for my own artistic journey.
Despite these struggles, I believe in what Girl Flock Party stands for. The connections, the mentorship, and the support we provide make all the challenges worth it. It’s an ongoing process, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been proud to call myself an artist all my life. From high school AP Art to earning my Fine Arts degree in college, art has always been at the core of who I am. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that I truly stepped into my role as a mixed-media artist. That’s when I began experimenting with layering high-fashion magazine pages, dripping metallic paint, and using an embossing heat tool to create unique textures—essentially “baking” the paint to add depth and movement. From there, I started incorporating my own drawings and paintings, often featuring animals, dark imagery, and spiritual elements.
My work is deeply influenced by my background in modeling, as well as my love for music, fashion, and pop culture. I create to spark self-awareness, invoke spirituality, and awaken the subconscious. My pieces often have hidden meanings, and their titles either reflect the imagery directly or hint at something deeper.
Lately, I’ve been shifting my focus back to a more obscure, distressed aesthetic—playing with textures, materials, and techniques to create an antiqued look. My art tends to represent two opposing sides of me: one that’s happy, orderly, and colorful, and another that’s dark, mysterious, and edgy. Depending on my mood and life experiences, my work reflects one side or the other, and I love that element of unpredictability.
What sets me apart is my ability to merge these different influences—fashion, personal identity, and storytelling—into a single piece. My work isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating an emotional or psychological experience for the viewer.
Now, I’m looking to evolve my style even further. I want to move beyond my current techniques and focus more on painting, introducing characters in a Western setting but blending them with unexpected elements that reshape their personalities. This new direction excites me because it allows me to explore storytelling in a fresh, dynamic way.
Above all, I’m proud of the way my work continues to grow and transform. Whether through my art or through Girl Flock Party, my goal has always been to create something meaningful—something that resonates, challenges perspectives, and connects people in unexpected ways.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe luck has played any part in my career. Everything I’ve accomplished has come from determination, hard work, making connections, asking questions, filling out applications, researching, and continuously educating myself. It’s about putting in the time and effort, having the desire to grow, and staying motivated even when things don’t go as planned.
That said, the internet has played a huge role in bringing attention to my work. It has helped me connect with the right people and businesses, gain recognition, and find opportunities I might not have discovered otherwise. In that sense, technology has created its own version of “luck” by making visibility and networking easier.
On the flip side, bad luck has come in the form of rejection and not always being taken seriously in the local art world. Because I don’t have a dedicated studio and I’m not fully invested as a full-time artist, I’ve sometimes felt overlooked. But I don’t let that define my success. I’ve built my career by showing up, putting in the work, and creating my own opportunities—no luck required.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melanieallisongallery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanieallisongallery or https://www.instagram.com/girlflockparty
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/girlflockparty
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/melanie-allison-gallery/
- Other: https://msha.ke/girlflockparty
Image Credits
Joi Conti Photography
Portrait Design by Esmeralda – the most recent images with pink background
Chloe Paige Photography
Kathleen Day
Peyton A. Hatchett
