07/09/2026
Say HI to our newest studio resident Mel Kalkan!
Mel Kalkan is a visual artist and maker, driven by a playful curiosity and keen exploration of colour, pattern, and texture. Her creative practice incorporates a variety of mediums and processes including textiles, collage, painting, and jewellery and surface design.
Under the name Kaleidokan, Mel designs and creates vibrant hand-painted wooden jewellery. Slow-made in small batches, each piece is unique - designed for lovers of colourful, playful, mood-lifting statement pieces made by hand rather than machine.
Sustainability is central to Mel’s practice. She works with what she can find rather than order on demand, believing this leads to the best experiments and happy accidents while keeping materials out of landfill. All textiles are sourced second-hand, and the studio runs a zero-waste approach. Leftover paint becomes a canvas piece or a batch of earrings, collage scraps find their way into new work.
When she’s not at the sewing machine or dreaming up new colour combinations, Mel explores creativity within a community context. A strong believer in making as a tool for wellbeing and connection, she pursues this through participatory projects - she’s a committee member and creative co-ordinator for Room to Be, and founder of POD Community Gallery in the Wellgate Centre.
We’re looking forward to showcasing Mel’s work at our Festive Boutique this December! In the meantime, you can find her online at:
www.melkalkan.co.uk
https://kaleidokan.etsy.com
