PORTRAIT TESTIMONIALS
“When I first saw the collage, I was rendered speechless! Nell’s ability to interpret the essence of my spirit was remarkable in itself and then to reflect that 3 dimensionally was breathtaking. I felt seen! I felt powerful! I felt understood.”
DR. FAITH BROWN
Fire of Faith
Presence. Strength. Power.
Fire of Faith celebrates the life of counseling psychologist, Dr Faith Brown.
Drawing on gems that could only be forged by nature and marrying them with images of belief and principles, the collage allows us to experience a woman in full celebration of her life. Faith’s smile is the essence of her presence, strength, and power. She successfully navigated the oppression of the South which prepared her to battle oppression wherever it arises. Fire surrounds Faith and the Scales of Justice flank her sides; fueling her to burn injustice.
A lover of family, a broach can be found in the 4 corners representing the ever presence of her revered grandmother, for whom she inherited her sense of style; her smile & grace from her mother; and her grit, represented by pearls, defines her bond with her 4 sisters. Her crown extends in all directions, celebrating the fullness of her femininity and the indestructible power of love.
“Authenticity and empowerment are the qualities Merlino brings to the subject of her work. Beautiful with dimensionality and character, her art tells a real- time story of accomplishment and aspiration all in one work”
DR. JOAN FALLON
Queen Joan
Pioneer. Emphatic. Leader
Queen Joan celebrates a momentous year in the life of pioneering scientist, Dr. Joan Fallon.
Drawing on a 15 th century painting and marrying it with the images of 21 st century accomplishment, Joan’s face is imbedded in The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth 1, which was painted in 1588,commemorating the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Joan has defeated complacency and the status quo to discover treatments for Autism, ADHD, addiction and Parkinson’s, taking her place in history.
Symbols surround Joan. Her Curemark LLC company logo is in the blue collar close to her face, her book, “Goodbye Status Quo: Reimagining the Landscape of Innovation” and her beloved New York Yankees live in the golden lace. An avid baseball fan, her crown is the World Series Trophy.
“Nell Merlino’s collage art made me feel ICONIC. Through her art she connected the dots between my body of work, my body of pain, joy and accomplishment to elevate me in a way I felt I had earned. I thought, “ Is that me ? I feel like I am a goddess!”
NELY GALAN
Don’t Buy Shoes, Buy Buildings
Entrepreneur. Self Made. Author.
Don’t Buy Shoes, Buy Buildings celebrates the liberation of Nely Galan, a self-made Cuban immigrant who inspires women to seek financial independence through her NYT best seller, Self-Made.
Nely is portrayed as both a warrior and an alchemist turning obstacles and pain into a tornado of opportunity. She wears a ceremonial Malaysian helmet and a 15 th century medieval cross on her chest for recognition and protection.
The portrait photographs of Nely in the collage are of her arriving at a Hollywood premier in a limo in her role as a TV producer (center), and of her arrival to America at the age of 5 years old from Cuba (upper right). The nun in the window informs us of the challenges Nely faced in Catholic School negotiating to sell Avon to help pay her tuition and support her family.
Building her own production company working with the likes to Norman Lear to Rupert Murdoch, Nely stopped buying expensive shoes and instead amassed money to buy properties to see her through the lean times.