Melissa and Mercedes Baker

Melissa and Mercedes Baker grew up on a cattle ranch in the hills of Napa Valley, CA.  Isolated from town and media, they spent their spare time drawing, writing, and turning old dusty hay barns into palaces of their imagination.  They never stopped.  

    Their current studio, a 1920’s hay barn as described in “American Art Collector,” May 2015 is “ A 6 acre ranch in the sticks with hundred year old houses, trees, rusty cars, fields, a gypsy wagon, a river, and an abundance of talented artists.  It's where community is luxury and creativity is treasure. So basically it's a mansion."  - Domonique Ellermeir. At their studio, @ehlerssociety, they do productions, film, art shows, music, and stage sets. 

    Along the barn’s walls are oil paintings of the sisters. Both artists have distinctive styles, yet their work maintains a similarity in feel and attack.   Though Melissa leans toward abstract and Mercedes representational, both toy with surrealism, expressionism, and abstraction.   Their work comes from a place of spontaneity, idolizing the idea that painting comes from the subconscious and not the noisy opinionated mind.  The Baker’s oil paintings have exhibited both nationally and abroad, in galleries, museums, universities and wineries. 

    Mercedes’ current work reflects the passage of time through a transparency of figures, buildings, and animals, layered to reflect her heritage. The idea that every person carries with them all that have come before, as well as, everything that directly and indirectly affects them. It is only a thin veil of perception that makes us feel alone. 

Zach Shuster's comment of Melissa Baker’s current work states “Her abstract style ranges from a landscape like dream on canvas, to the visceral suggestion of  bubbles foaming out of a rift in our very reality, to the dawn of time from deep beneath forgotten seas. The art that covers her studio walls evokes a grand journey through the inner and outer spaces of life, boiling and churning like some barely tamed cacophony. “

          Current Exhibition

Jan 27th - March 1st 2023

CAMI Art + Wine

Gallery Hours

Fri-Sun 10am-5pm

Current Publication

Visit Napa Valley

*Featured artists with NBC Pottery and Nancy Willis

 Selected Painting Exhibitions

• The Broome Street Gallery                    New York City, NY

• 4N5 Gallery                                             San Francisco, CA

• University of California Berkeley, CA

• Bonenkamp & Revele Galleria               Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Mitra Galleria                                           Buenos Aires, Argentina

• CAMi Calistoga, CA

• Also Gallery                                            Los Angeles, CA

• Stories Los Angeles, CA

• 4th Street and Vine Long Beach, CA

• St. Supery Winery                                   Napa Valley, CA

• Echo Gallery                                            Napa Valley, CA

• Culinary Institute of America                   Napa Valley, CA

• The Tea House                                       Sante Fe, NM

• The Priebe Gallery                                   Oshkosh, WI

• University of Wisconsin                           Oshkosh, WI

  Productions and Installations

• Nimbash - Nimbus Arts                                                        Napa Valley, CA       2010-2023

• Ehlers Society Psych Nite Napa Valley, CA 2019-2022

• Lady Justice- Install for BLM Napa Valley, CA 2020

• Engage Art Faire                                                        Napa Valley, CA        2018- 2019

• "Speak Hard Speak Easy"  Caesars Palace                       Las Vegas, NV          2018

• Railroad Square Music Festival - stage design                Santa Rosa. CA        2017

• "Winter Open House" at Ehlers Society                             Napa Valley, CA        2016-2022

• "Time Travellers"  SOMO Village                                         Rohnert Park, CA     2016

• "Ladies of Liberty"  Install at Flora Springs                         Napa Valley, CA       2016

• "All Hallows' Eve"  Install at Flora Springs                           Napa Valley, CA       2016

• "Imagination of the Jungle"  Install at Flora Springs          Napa Valley, CA        2016

• "Beautiful Girls"  music video for Beka Barnett                  Oakland, CA              2016

• "House of Broken Dolly Art Foundation"                            Vallejo,  CA                2016

• "Open 48 Buenos Aires"  mural w/ TroshFalcon                Buenos Aires, AR      2015

• "Constallation of Makers"  Terrace Winery                          Napa Valley, CA         2015

• "Americana" Riot Stage                                                         Long Beach, CA         2014

• "Brit Pop" -Riot Stage                                                            Long Beach, CA          2013

• "Pretty Bird" Music Video - Samvega                                  Napa Valley, CA          2013

• "Skin and Bones" - Arlene Francis Theater                         Santa Rosa, CA           2011-2012

• "Burlesque and Bacon" - Arlene Francis Theater               Santa Rosa, CA            2012

• "Fire In Glass" - Hop Monk Tavern                                       Sebastopol, CA            2011 

• "Amen" Maere Music Video - Filament Features                Bodega Bay, CA           2011

• Mustard Festival - Culinary Institute, Mondavi, Copia         Napa Valley, CA           2003-2009

• "Four Seasons" Dream Weaver Theater                              Napa Valley, CA           2008

  Art Fashion Shows

• NIMBASH, Nimbus Arts Napa Valley, 2010-2022

• Mabon, Hour Glass Wines Napa Valley, CA 2018-2019

• Speak Hard Speak Easy, Caesars Palace Las Vegas, NV 2018

• “Bollywood Disco”

• Napa Shakes, Caldwell Snyder Gallery St. Helena, CA 2018

• “Glitter Army” House of Broken Dolly Vallejo, CA 2017

• “Baby Queen Byzantine” Terraces Wine Napa Valley, 2016

  Education

• University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh         Oshkosh, WI

• Art Students League                              New York City, NY

• San Francisco State University             San Francisco, CA

• School of International Training            Bali, Indonesia

• Willamette University                             Salem, OR

  Press

• American Art Collector

• AFAR

• Bohemian

• Calistoga Tribune

• Napa Valley Register

• CELEBRATE Napa Valley

• Visit Napa Valley