Melissa Allegories shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Melissa, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, without question.
I do not compromise my authenticity to make others comfortable. Integrity guides my work: doing what is right for the greater good, regardless of beliefs or who is watching. I want my art to serve something intrinsically meaningful. Through allegorical stories and spiritual art, I share deep philosophical insights that support well-being, encourage ethical behavior and promote healthier habits.
To further introduce myself, my name is Melissa Hernandez, known artistically as Melissa Allegories. I create a fictitious world to communicate secular, ethical and logical principles through storytelling arts. Born and raised in Brooklyn with Dominican roots and residing in Sunrise, Florida since 1995, I blend creative writing with allegorical visual representations, emphasizing profound ideas and concepts. As the founder of Smile Sweet Sunflower LLC, I merge visual arts and literature, inviting exploration into a world where philosophical ideas come alive.
I draw inspiration from human resilience. One line from a Richmond Education History Engine article, Not Even Past: Social Vulnerability and the Legacy of Redlining, resonates deeply with me: “Writers did not create superheroes only to entertain and make a living, but to bring hope to the American people. Instead, the real heroes in the Great Depression of America turned out to be the American people themselves.” I aim to provide philosophical insights through storytelling, using a style that is primitive and diverse yet contemporary and urban.
Though I care deeply about humanity, I have never been drawn to the human figure. My artistic approach is more spiritual, leading me into wildlands where I explore lines, shapes, symbols and patterns. I work with acetate sheets, transfer paper and now stencils to convey ideas. Creativity is not limited to natural talent and most artists are not prodigies. There is no such thing as cheating, though appropriation art comes close.
I use strings of allegorical metaphors — extended symbolism forming a network of ideas and stories — to convey philosophical and ethical meanings such as resilience, personal development and the pursuit of human flourishing. For example, I combine a clock, an egg and wings to represent breaking through adversity — a message of hope tied to self-actualization and growth. This depiction appears on the cover of the 2025 edition of the Time2Bloom Art Book Anthology, featuring my debut series, MelissAllegories.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Little Space, Little Time, Little Resources — BIG Ideas
I believe some people need to be dreamers to give others hope. Otherwise, we will all just be Les Misérables. I’ve previously used the Bamboo Tree analogy to describe my hopes for physical, intellectual, emotional, social, vocational, financial and environmental prosperity, though I later learned it isn’t an actual tree — it’s grass!
People say the beginning of any endeavor is always the hardest. I hope that’s true. When life hits hard, it can make us feel like we haven’t done enough. So much has happened since September 2023 that everything before then feels like a blur. 2024 has been incredibly overwhelming and challenging, making it easy to forget the rewards along the way.
Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth
Growth comes at a cost. I broke the bank and burned holes in my pockets, yet there are so many moments to remember:
• Wrote the first five segments of the introduction chapter of Lében.
• Completed 30 illustrative paintings in three sizes. Each illustration, from the smallest detail to medium compositions, told a story of dedication and resilience after a long period of stagnation.
• Designed a temporary website page with complementary materials, including text, video/audio and other resources for participants.
• Created six additional 6×6-inch artworks, donated to the Coral Springs Museum of Art for their Empty Walls exhibition/fundraiser, totaling 36 pieces across three sizes: minuscules, small and medium works.
• Hosted Moonrise 2024 at the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens to support HANDY, Inc. (Helping Abused, Neglected, Disadvantaged Youth).
• Left my creative mark on a mural, Beyond The Canvas, thanks to the support of H.O.M.E.S., Inc., Art 13 and Vicki Rosenthal Art.
• Received a $100 stipend from Mr. Mark Miller, ART13 Sponsor and President of Action for Literacy and an Honorable Mention Ribbon from Frank Polanco, creator of ART13.
• Designed, wrote and curated my first solo exhibition, which ran for four months at the Sunrise Dan Pearl Library as their inaugural exhibition, supported by the Broward County Cultural Division, Kristen Cole Morrison (library manager), and Jermaine Thompson (Facilities and Maintenance Superintendent).
• Registered part of my logo with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Gained new insights from a former workmate, enabling me to launch my new business website and create meaningful copywriting aligned with my practice.
• And so much more!
I have experienced moments of dwindling hope, especially as reality hits harder than expected. I also recently clarified that my company was officially registered on July 14, 2022, rather than July 13, 2022, the date I initially referenced.
Life has been full of twists and turns. I am incredibly grateful to have presented my first solo exhibition in a gallery space, serendipitously showcasing eight pieces at The Robert A. Peck Gallery at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyoming. Time2Bloom 2025 was a rare solo exhibition opportunity where Allegory Meets Artistry!
As I continue to grow and share my work with diverse communities, I was also honored to participate in several group exhibitions this year, including Summer Time (Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA), HOPE springs… (Arts Illiana Gallery, Terre Haute, IN), Botanic and May Flowers (Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA), BLOOM Art Exhibition (The Galleria, Fort Lauderdale, FL), and Flowers and Trees (MVA Gallery, Bethlehem, PA).
Together, we can help beautiful ideas blossom and spread kindness. Support my mission to create meaningful art — your encouragement makes all the difference: buymeacoffee.com/time2bloom
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
From Concepts to Imagery: Pathways of Innovation
We all need a moment to think and breathe — to step back from constant motion and rediscover meaning in stillness. Finding balance between activity and rest can be challenging, yet it’s essential for clarity.
As I pause to reflect, I realize that it wasn’t just one moment that shaped how I see the world, but a series of interconnected experiences — each one leading into the next, revealing deeper layers of understanding and growth.
I began working with the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts on Valentine’s Day 2025, assisting at the reception desk and behind the scenes as they relaunched in Hollywood, Florida. Louise Irvine, Executive Director and Curator at WMODA, said to me a while back (though it feels like just the other day):
“Surely your work is not just pretty pictures. They say something. Don’t they?”
I remember pausing, taking a breath and looking inward… almost like that Superman moment: “But the world’s too big, Mom.”
Not long after, Phillip Dunlap, Director of the Broward County Cultural Division, shared a thought from Qunyatta Warren, Deputy Director of Cultural Affairs, City of South Fulton, GA, that resonated deeply with me. Warren described the arts as “more than mere decoration — the arts are civic scaffolding for society. They’re how we transmit values, process change and imagine better futures” (paraphrased from Warren). Phillip shared this in the Bold Voices podcast by the Community Foundation of Broward, in an episode titled Beyond Beaches: How Arts Shape Broward’s Identity.
Art for me is all about storytelling and the stories we tell matter. Eudaimonia, the central idea of my evolving narrative and multifaceted project, explores a blooming theme that embodies personal growth and societal transformation. It builds on my ongoing work merging visual arts and literature to explore philosophical themes through imaginative storytelling.
Growing up, I mainly drew, as drawing was more affordable than painting. I was resourceful, using whatever materials I had. Painted primarily with Lefranc Bourgeois Flashe Vinyl Paint, my relief painting style draws from Victoria Ellis’ symbolic designs and infuses a soft, vibrant palette with repetitive strokes and patterns inspired by Ulrich von Pottenstein, a medieval Austrian cleric. This marks a significant evolution in both my materials and artistic approach.
I am transitioning from mixed drawing mediums to a focus on painting, experimenting with dry brush, stencils, sign-painting and relief techniques — creating archival, long-lasting works that invite contemplation and introspection through color, texture and form.
I’ve applied for a couple of larger grants but have yet to be successful. As Jane Goodall said, “Hope is contingent upon our taking action together soon.” Although I try my best to stay hopeful, both of my projects are at a bit of a standstill while I do what I can with the limited resources I have. I don’t currently have the support system needed for Smile Sweet Sunflower LLC to grow into something larger, as I’ve reached some scary limits with my personal investments — not a risk I would recommend to anyone.
At the end of the day, it’s not about fame nor is it entirely about fortune. It’s about making art that serves something intrinsically meaningful — work that can leave a lasting impression and provoke positive change both within ourselves and in the world around us.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Eudaimonia — Watering, Nurturing and Cultivating a Life Well-Lived
Facing the Struggle
That time is now. I’ve poured all of myself into this new and innovative project yet have yet to see a return on my investment. Many people recognize my potential and believe in what I’m doing, but progress isn’t possible without a strong support system or the resources to make it happen. Still, I continue, slow and steady, to see this vision through.
The Project
Eudaimonia is my current project, an artistic exploration of what it means to live a life well-lived in the modern world.
“Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants, spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order as best they can?” Marcus Aurelius wrote. “Let each thing you would do, say, or intend be like that of a dying person.”
We should act with the urgency and clarity of someone who knows time is limited, living in accord with nature and our purpose.
Stillness and Growth
Ironically, we often need to step back and be still in order to move forward. Sometimes, the only real way out of life’s entanglements is through stillness — a quiet loophole we create by slowing down and listening inward.
It takes time to bloom. Diligently, we move — slow and steady yet with a sense of urgency — allowing space for understanding, truth and clarity.
Allegorical Themes
Eudaimonia allegorically encapsulates the pressures of a fast-paced lifestyle.
We’re driving speeding vehicles in the fast lane —
setting our bodies in motion without the time we need
to plant seeds, grow and rest for personal and societal growth.
Slow down…
inhale deeply…
pause, take a moment…
exhale softly…
and breathe in nature’s solace.
Artistic Intent
This project draws upon the ancient concept of eudaimonia — often translated as human flourishing — to explore what it means to live well in the modern world. My artful, allegorical relief paintings are designed to get viewers off the fast track and into a reflective space. They invite introspection, embodying vehicles of thought while evoking the race against time in pursuit of self-actualization and lasting fulfillment.
Through the juxtaposition of speeding vehicles and blossoming gardens, I explore the tension between rapid societal advancement and the quiet, cyclical rhythms of nature.
Philosophical Foundations
I like to take fragments of insight steeped in wisdom and relate them to something relevant in my life. Aristotle’s philosophy of nature compares a fruit tree blossoming from its seed to a human embryo developing into a mature, rational being — symbolizing the progression from potentiality to actuality, or in modern terms, self-actualization and human flourishing.
Artistic Influences
This visual narrative is also inspired by the fired arts of glass and ceramics. The organic intricacy of Paul Stankard’s botanical orbs resonates with my love for nature, while the circular motifs in Victoria Ellis’ ceramic reliefs recall elements from my earlier drawings, which I keep in mind as I explore new molding techniques. Stankard’s root people, inspired by the mandrakes illustrated in medieval herbals, make me think about the process of blooming — not as a one-time event, but as a perennial. Different parts of us develop during different phases of our lives, and the more we work on ourselves, the more we can ripple the effects of self-actualization outward, creating the conditions for collective flourishing.
Looking Ahead
From concepts to imagery, Eudaimonia marks a profound turning point in my artistic journey. It is a step into uncharted creative terrain, where I explore a new way of illustrating, using traditional mediums in innovative ways. Through this work, I seek to nurture a vision of blooming — one that reflects personal growth and radiates outward, inspiring a more compassionate, interconnected world.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One is that the traditional narrative of individual blame — the idea that “people stay poor because they didn’t work hard enough” or “anyone can succeed if they just try harder” — is fundamentally incomplete. It ignores the systemic factors that shape our lives: where we’re born, access to education, healthcare, childcare, transportation, stable housing, discrimination and generational poverty. The world is not a level playing field and meaningful change cannot happen without acknowledging these realities.
At the same time, I believe deeply in human potential. Drawing from models like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the Circle of Courage and Aristotle’s philosophy, I see that humans are driven not just by survival, but by the pursuit of meaning, growth, connection and purpose. We all seek belonging, competence, autonomy and virtue. Our differences — the unique strengths and weaknesses of each personality, including my own as an INFJ — are not meant to divide us, but to harmonize us. True progress comes when we connect with one another, leverage our varied talents and build systems that support everyone in reaching their potential.
This understanding drives my desire to support structural change — policies like universal healthcare, housing-first programs, free community college or student debt relief, living wages, union protections and childcare support. I believe that when systemic barriers are addressed, human potential can flourish. And if the arts are civic scaffolding for society, then how can we use them to transmit values, process change and imagine better futures?
I also hold a deep connection to nature, seeing it as essential for balance, clarity and resilience. Bringing more of it into our lives — through cultivating food forests, gardens and observing wildlife — provides solace in both work and life. I am fascinated by the interplay between the superficial and profound, the left brain and right, and technology with nature. This is a truth I often find difficult to articulate and prefer to show through my allegorical work rather than tell. It carries both optimism for individual growth and realism about the systems that shape our lives, yet underpins every choice I make in my work and life.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I haven’t thought about it too deeply, but I hope people remember me as a dreamer and visionary pragmatist who believed in the possibility of human flourishing and self-actualization — someone who saw potential in others rather than merely the cruelty or dumbing down of our society, always doing my best to keep the glass half full. Someone who understood that we all have the capacity to do both harm and good, shaped by biological, sociological and environmental factors.
I hope they see that I recognized the interplay between our concrete and conceptual worlds and sought to unveil societal illusions to understand what it means to be truly fulfilled. I want to be remembered as someone who encourages the growth of a profound and meaningful life — tending to the soil we share both conceptually and in reality, so that everyone can flourish and bring forth their unique gifts with authenticity and harmony. Ultimately, I hope they tell the story of someone who tried to create a life that was not just lived but worthwhile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://melissartworks.com
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Image Credits
Melissa Allegories
