Melissa Hefferlin was born in 1968, her early years shaped by the discipline of classical violin, a path she pursued for sixteen years before pivoting to visual art. She studied art in Los Angeles and Tennessee, then crossed behind the Iron Curtain to become the only American at the Russian Academy of Arts during the Soviet period (now called “The Ilya Repin St. Petersburg State Academic Institute for Painting, Sculpture and Architecture”). This rigorous academic training honed her draftsmanship and instilled an enduring respect for form, color and historical continuity.
Since turning professional in 1993, Hefferlin has used oils and most 2-d media to solve visual puzzles and tip the scales towards harmony and beauty in a restless world. (A Romantic goal, yes.)
Her works often feature recurring avatars – most notably Wilhelmina, a winged rabbit embodying freedom, vulnerability, fleet-footedness and mischievous wisdom.
Languages are part of her creative landscape; she speaks English, Russian, and Spanish, and enough Italian to eat well and navigate the country’s art supply shops.
Hefferlin co-hosts An Artful Life: Curious Conversations about How Humans Make and Use Art, a live videocast with Swiss-American photographer Nina Froriep. The interviews with art professionals stream live on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, and are archived on those platforms and her website.
She and her husband, Daud Akhriev, divide their time between Europe and the United States, where they’re based in a 1919 bank building they renovated themselves – a space filled with art, books, and the echoes of local history.
To follow Wilhelmina’s adventures and explore Melissa’s evolving body of work, visit her on Instagram @hefferlin .
Memberships and Associations
American Women Artists, Member with Distinction
Oil Painters of America
Pastel Society of America - Signature Member
ASPAS (Association of Spanish Pastel Painters)
Union of Russian Fine Artists Full Member
Co-Founder, Co-Designer Serithea Silk Scarves
About
Awards, Distinctions, publications
Honorable Mention: Still LIfe Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition 2025
First Place, OPA Spring Showcase Cash Award Online Oil Painters of America 2024
17th International Salon Art Renewal Center, Semi-finalist 2024
Artists Magazine, Juror for 41st Annual International Competition, Still Life section 2024
Artists Magazine, Author of the feature “The Object as Talisman”, Summer-Fall 2024
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Artists Painting Artists feature, Dec 2023
Still Life Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of American National Convention, Steamboat Museum 2022
Guest Artist Pastels du monde au féminin, Montluçon, France 2022
Guest Artist 4th Biennale de Pastels Lyon, France 2022
Best Non-Commissioned Portrait, Portrait Society of America, Members Only Competition 2021
Artists Magazine Annual Competition Second Place Award for “Fish out of Water” 2021
Society of Women Artists International Competition Juried into exhibition 2021
Pastel Journal Feature Article “A Paradigm of Beauty” by Robert Carson, Oct 2020
Caran d'Ache Award Spanish National Pastel Biennial Oviendo, Spain 2018
Great American Painting Award Pastel Society of America National Juried Exhibition NYC 2017
Selected Artist Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition2017
Selected Artist Pastel Society of America National Juried Exhibition NYC 2017
Signature Status Pastel Society of America 2016
Salmagundi Club Non-Member National Competition 2016
Member with Distinction American Women Artists 2016
Finalist, American Women Artists Spring Exhibition Online 2016
Finalist, Artist Magazine Annual International Competition, 2016
National Purchase Prize, City of Olvera, Andalusia, Spain 2013
American Artist, feature article, June, 2009
Salmagundi Award of Excellence at the National Juried Pastel Society of America NYC 2008
21st Century Waterfront Monumental Mural, Winner of the All-State competition
Popular Choice, National Exhibition Oil Painters of America Still Life 2003
Artist in Residence Robert M. MacNamara Foundation, Westport, Maine 2003
Selected collections
Hunter Museum of American Art, USA
Academy of Fine Art Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
Seimens Collection, USA
Memorial Hospital, USA
Erlanger Children’s Hospital, USA
Southern Adventist University, USA
UNUM Provident Life Insurance Corporation, USA University of Tennessee Chattanooga, USA Southern Adventist University Church, TN USA
Siskin Children’s Hospital USA
Mask Cotton, Memphis Tennessee USA
City Hall, City of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee USA
City Hall (Ayuntamiento), Olvera, Spain
City Hall (Ayuntamiento) Ronda, Spain