Who is JMEL?
Jesse Melanson aka “JMEL” is a California-based artist working nationally. Since 2017, he has completed 40+ public murals across the United States in collaboration with cities, arts organizations, and community partners.
Artwork Rooted in Community Storytelling
JMEL’s mural practice is grounded in community storytelling — creating public art that reflects the lived experiences, histories, and shared values of a place through visual narratives that are accessible, meaningful, and lasting.
How I Work.
Each project begins with listening. I take time to learn about the community — its people, its rhythms, and how the site functions within daily life. Conversations, local history, and place-based research inform my design process. Rather than arriving with a fixed concept, I approach murals as collaborative opportunities to visually interpret what makes a place distinct.
Design Approach.
My designs emphasize rhythm, movement, and visual flow. Through composed forms and deliberate color relationships, I create murals that are balanced, intentional, and alive within their surroundings—guiding the viewer’s experience across large architectural surfaces in a way that is natural and intuitive.
Why Murals
I see murals as visual markers of identity and care within shared spaces. My work is grounded in place, shaped through community input, and created to contribute meaningfully to a neighborhood’s evolving story. For me, murals are a way of connecting and communicating with people—using paint as a tool to translate the voice of an environment into a visual language.