Melissa Aytenfisu  is a Canadian artist specializing in oil painting, digital print media, photography, printmaking, and drawing. Originally from Edmonton, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Alberta before moving to Montreal, where she later received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University. Throughout her career, she has balanced teaching and art-making, with her work appearing in exhibitions across multiple continents.

Growing up in a multiracial family of nine and traveling extensively through Africa, Asia, and North America, Aytenfisu’s artistic practice is deeply informed by themes of identity, mobility, and social justice. Since relocating to Houston in 2013, she has continued her creative work while serving as a project specialist with the Center for Performing Arts Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital. She currently resides in the Third Ward with her three children. Learn more about Aytenfisu and her work here.