this website acts as a portfolio for melissa kelley and features zines and soaps for sale and divination services. this website also features sketches, architecture work, experimental film + video, b/vlog posts, and other forms of artistic expression

background:

melissa was born and raised in buffalo ny. she studied transcultural literature and film at american university, king’s college london and daemen university. she also received a minor in theater from daemen university. she received her master’s in architecture from university at buffalo in 2024. she currently works as an architectural designer in buffalo ny

melissa’s interest in a wide variety of high-level topics including experimental theater and theory have allowed her to cultivate a unique vision. Her passion + desire for knowledge has taken her from London to Jo Burg to Athens and allowed her to create programs that still have legacies today. She seeks to take a leaf from a deconstructionist’s book: by creating architecture & art that combines theory & hazy dreams with roots

contact: honeybeearchitects@gmail.com

ABOUT CONTINUED

melissa has taino, yoruba & celtic ancestry (haitian / irish)- and the example of her ancestors is a guiding light and a source of pride for her. ireland's rich history of resilience inspires her. in relating to the petro spirits of the haitian revolution she feels closest to her taino ancestors. originally looking to practice haitian vodou she ended up falling into santeria instead- and similarly in heavily researching haitian history she learned that her personal hero- vodou priest & revolution leader francis makandal's last words were The Shahada. through her research she uncovered haiti's hidden Islamic past and found that many of her ancestors- like francis makandal- practiced both islam + vodou. following in their footsteps: both santeria and islam have become central to her life

the other key defining feature of her identity is her rare and difficult diagnosis of bipolar disorder 1 with psychotic features. this has resulted in a twenties marked by instability, mental hospital visits, and an incredible amount of suffering. for years she considered her suffering a waste and felt bitter resentment for what she believed was lost and the pain she endured. at times feeling a sharp jealousy of those she percieved to have a "normal life"- believing at her core that her life was over

only within the last few months has she had a different perspective. she now sees her suffering as molding her into something unique and giving her a rare insight. her depressions or psychosis that forced her to drop out of school multiple times- resultingly allowed her to learn about new subjects that she never would've considered if she was healthy: such as architecture and experimental theater

this is only the beginning of her insight- but her suffering is not over: as bipolar disorder is a chronic disability with no cure. she feels much more equipped to handle it however, with a strong support system, medication (cue lithium by kurt cobain) as well as additional spiritual + indigienous remedies. but also hope, resilience, a new found faith in God, and the knowledge that suffering carves something deeper and holier out of her each time and allows her to search for a light on the other side of the abyss