Melissa Wilson

My work explores urban decay and resilience through saltwater etched copper, a process that balances control with unpredictability. Rooted in Detroit, I incorporate salt drawn from beneath the city, embedding each piece with a sense of place and layered history. I begin by photographing buildings and neighborhoods myself, documenting structures marked by time, then translating those images into drawings that I etch into copper. While Detroit remains central to my practice, I now create work inspired by architecture from cities around the world. Through these etched copper surfaces, I invite viewers to reflect on memory, place, and the quiet strength embedded in our built environments.