Born and raised in Colorado, Melody Epperson has spent her life immersed in the Rocky Mountains and exploring every art material possible. Surrounded by a creative family and schools that encouraged inquiry, she developed an unquenchable curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning. Epperson earned her BFA in Communication Design and Ceramics and pursued graduate studies in Integrated Arts at Leslie University, Columbia College Chicago, and Goddard College. Now working primarily in painting with encaustic and cold wax, Epperson explores the complex relationships between people and the natural world. Drawing on personal history and collective memory, she creates diverse artworks that reflect both the beauty and fragility of our connection to nature. After receiving the Mac Arthur Goodwin Award for Distinguished Service Within the Profession in 2021 for her elementary art and music teaching in Jefferson County, Epperson transitioned to full-time studio practice. Her work has been exhibited in multiple galleries and museums including the Arvada Center for the Arts, Loveland Museum, Molly Brown House Museum, Colorado Women's Art Museum and the Encaustic Museum in Santa Fe, NM. She currently shows at D'Art Gallery in Denver, CO and NKollectiv in Englewood, CO. Beyond her studio practice, Epperson is deeply committed to her artistic community. She served as President of the Women's Caucus for Art Colorado from 2021-2023 and has been a board member of ArtSource Colorado for more than fifteen years, dedicating her time and energy to supporting fellow artists and arts education.