A woman in a blue floral dress standing outdoors in a field, holding a canvas painting of a cowboy riding into the sunset with mountains and clouds in the background.

Howdy.

Welcome to my little corner of the art world.

I’m a Northern Michigan native living in Southwest Colorado with my husband, Mason, and our rescue pup, Bandit. We love spending our free time playing outside in the nearby mountains and desert.

I’m a self-taught and community-led artist whose practice has grown through years of experimentation, curiosity, and trial and error. My art is grounded in lived experience and connection to place. I paint only what I know and have seen — drawing from my own reference materials and memories.

Living in Southwest Colorado, I’ve been deeply influenced by the region’s landscapes, history and culture. The spirit of the West infuses my life and my work - it's not just visible the end result but fuels my creative process. For me, painting is a way to stay rooted and connected to my home while continually discovering new ways to interpret and experience it.

My current collection bridges aesthetics of traditional Western art with the realities of modern life and culture while exploring new perspectives of what the American West and Southwest looks and feels like today.

Questions, collaborations, or just want to say hi? Shoot me an email at mkolrich@gmail.com.

Cheers!

Mel

2025

Durango Autumn Art Festival | September 2025

Solo Show at Fenceline | Mancos, CO July-August 2025

CanvasRebel Interview | July 21st 2025

Shoutout Colorado Interview | June 11th 2025

2024

Bizarre Bazaar, Studio & Gallery | December 2024

Durango Autumn Art Festival | September 2024

Install at 81301 Coffee | Durango, CO, July-August 2024

Studio & Gallery | Durango, CO, February 23rd - March 2nd 2024

Publications & Exhibitions

A woman holding a black and white dog inside a bright living room with framed artwork on the wall and a window showing trees outside.
Close-up of a green leafy plant on a wooden shelf, with art supplies and framed artwork in the background.
Person selecting pastel markers in a wooden box with various art and photography supplies on a desk, including paintbrushes, a camera, and a letter board.
A woman with short brown hair, wearing a sleeveless orange top and green pants, is smiling while wrapping a gift at her desk with a black cutting mat. In the background, there is a wooden shelf with a tote bag featuring a black and orange design, a p
A person tying a string around a colorful watercolor journal with a cactus patterned mug and floral washi tape on a cutting mat table.
Person holding a framed watercolor painting of a mountain landscape with green trees and a pastel sky, with other framed art pieces in the background including red and green abstract art and black and white line art.
A woman hanging framed artwork on a wall with wooden shelving, next to a window with green outside scenery.
A framed orange line drawing of a person wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a fringed shawl, a pink instant camera, and a handwritten note that says 'slow growth is good growth' on a beige card with red ink, all displayed on a wooden shelf with other fra
A woman with short hair in a sleeveless red top and green pants sitting at a light wood desk, drinking from a mug, while working on a laptop and looking at her phone near a window with green trees outside.
A woman sitting in a black chair, smiling and holding a digital drawing tablet with a stylus in her hand. She is wearing an orange sleeveless top and khaki pants, sitting near a window with sunlight coming in. There is a sign on the wall with the wor
A letter board with the words 'Western Inspired Illustrations & Landscapes', a Canon AE-1 camera, a clay mug with paintbrushes, a jar with a paintbrush, and a piece of driftwood on a wooden surface.
A young woman sitting in a black leather chair, reading or writing in a notebook, in a room with a large window, a wooden shelf with books, posters, and art supplies, and a colorful collection of dumbbells on the floor.