Melinda Young

Ms Melinda Young is a contemporary jeweller, craftsperson, and Lecturer at UNSW Art & Design. She is currently pursuing a cross-disciplinary PhD at the Australian Centre for Culture, Environment, Society and Space (ACCESS) at the University of Wollongong, focusing on the concept of place in contemporary jewellery and craft objects.

• Education: PhD Candidate (University of Wollongong, 2020–present); Master of Visual Arts (University of Sydney, 2002); Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) (University of Sydney, 1999)

Research Interests center on material geography, cultural landscapes, and the intersection of craft, design, and human geography. Her practice spans jewellery, textiles, installation, and interactive public art, exploring themes like scent as cultural adornment, abjection, and the liminal space of journeys. She collaborates with artist Lauren Simeoni on the unnatural, naturally project, questioning permanence and impermanence in material use. Her teaching emphasizes openness, diversity, and inclusive practice, with roles at UNSW since 2002 and involvement in community programs like the Indigenous Jewellery Project.

Scientific & Artistic Awards include multiple commendations, residencies, and scholarships. Notable recognitions are the 2024 National Contemporary Jewellery Award Highly Commended, 2020 APA Scholarship, and 2019 Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching at UNSW.