Introducing: Brother Mel Meyer
Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers is honored to offer the lifetime collection of Brother Mel Meyer from his studio and gallery on the campus of St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis, MO.
Brother Mel Meyer's studio and gallery on the campus of St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis, MO
Brother Mel Meyer was born in Florissant, MO in 1928 and joined the Marianist order of monks at the age of 19. The Marianists believe in using one’s God-given talents as an expression of their faith and in such encouraged Brother Mel’s artistic pursuits. After achieving his master’s degree in art from the University of Notre Dame in 1960, he embarked on an extensive European tour of the arts where he studied under artists Jean Marlot, Ivan Mestrovic, and Jacques le Chevallier.
In 1969, Brother Mel opened his studio on Vianney High School campus. Approaching Brother Mel’s studio, one would have thought they’d been transported elsewhere entirely. Dozens of brightly colored sculptures dot the greenery, instantly provoking a sense of whimsy in contrast to the modest rustic farmhouse setting. Inside his studio, the walls are teeming with vibrant abstract oil expressions on immense canvases, brightly enameled metal work, brutalist crucifixes and candelabras, and an abundance of shapes, angles, and textures that exude curiosity and delight. His vocation was that the happiness he embodied in his life found its way into each piece he created.
During his lifetime, Brother Mel created an estimated 10,000 bodies of work, an achievement that speaks to his diligence and devotion to his art as well as his faith. He once said, “Art is not easy work. Art is an everyday, all-day work. I would rather be working than sitting. Art is not about talking.” Brother Mel harnessed a vast array of media from metal sculpture, glass, watercolor, acrylic, oil, frescoes, found objects, handmade paper and textiles. His prolificity also led him to constructing furniture, as well as the light fixtures, stained glass windows, and the wall-paneling that graced his studio. The diversity of his skill and the breadth of his imagination remain grounded in the principles of his religion but speak openly to the beholder of peaceful synchronicity in the modern world.
Brother Mel Meyer passed away October 12, 2013. Today his work can be found in public spaces throughout St. Louis and the nation, among numerous private and corporate collections.
Rare works from Brother Mel Meyer’s studio will debut in Selkirk’s Modernism & Contemporary Auction, taking place April 26, 2025, 10am CT. A public preview will be available April 21st-25th, Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm CT. An evening cocktail reception will be held April 25th, 5pm-8pm CT.
For additional information or to RSVP for the reception, please contact [email protected].
