Rafael Melendez

Rafael Melendez works across publication, performance, and institutional critique. His practice uses authorship, repetition, and image circulation as unstable materials.

Operating at the edge of postmodern appropriation and conceptual publishing, Melendez produces under several registers, including the pseudonymous imprint The Academy of Realness. Its pamphlets, folded publications, and printed documents function as theory-objects, exhibition ephemera, and autonomous works.

The works gathered here were published by Rafael Melendez through art fairs, exhibitions, and related contexts. Each operates as printed matter, artwork, and record. Authorship, function, and status remain open.

  • Original 2014 GAY exhibition announcement card, Bronx Council on the Arts and Longwood Arts Project, New York, featuring a lush green woodland stream and fallen tree with large thin white lowercase typography spelling 'gay' across the full-colour landscape image. Reverse of original GAY exhibition card issued by the Bronx Council on the Arts / Longwood Arts Project, New York, 2014. Black text on white background lists exhibition dates, participating artists including Rafael Melendez, public programs, venue information, and exhibition advisory notice.**GAY: The Exhibition / The Bronx Museum, New York / 2014

    GAY — Bronx Council on the Arts / Longwood Arts Project, New York, 2014

    GAY — Bronx Council on the Arts / Longwood Arts Project, New York, 2014

  • Rafael Melendez, The Naked Lunch, The Academy of Realness, 2023 — front cover; black ground; AI-generated chrome female android figure in three-quarter profile, head lowered, mechanical neck and shoulder detail visible; 'RAFAEL MELENDEZ' in white graffiti-style lettering along left spine; 'The Naked Lunch' in teal type at upper right; Academy of Realness circular logo at top centre Rafael Melendez — The Naked Lunch

    Rafael Melendez — The Naked Lunch

    Rafael Melendez — The Naked Lunch

  • Exterior view showing heavily worked covers and spine; blue tape, polka-dot paper patches, and layered collage elements visible across front and back boards; accumulated material thickness visible at spine edge; object shows significant handling consistent with production and use Unique artist book open to interior spread; left page shows ink drawings of conjoined figures, heart motif with 'Nothing Is Nothing' text, and collaged photographs; right page shows ink-drawn figures including a woman with 'Is Fleeing' text and a turtle-like form; fan stamps throughout; layered found paper and tape

    Rafael Melendez — Nothing’s Wrong

    Rafael Melendez — Nothing’s Wrong

  • atherine Holly / The Academy of Realness, My Brother Is Not Daniel Richter / My Father Is Not Gehrhart, New York 2014 — cover; blue spray-painted ground over found book; stencilled text reading 'Daniel Richter / Ist Not / Ther Bro / My / My Fat / Her Ist / Not / Gehrhart' in black; Strand Price stickers affixed; rubber-stamped cartoon skull image; 'I Know Nothing' speech bubble at lower left Interior opening spread; left page shows black-and-white portrait of young woman with 'RICHARD' caption; right page shows photocopied architectural interior with figures and 'guide to infectious psychology' caption; page numbers 01 and 02

    Catherine Holly / The Academy of Realness — My Brother Is Not Daniel Richter / My Father Is Not Gehrhart

    Catherine Holly / The Academy of Realness — My Brother Is Not Daniel Richter / My Father Is Not Gehrhart

  • Catherine Holly / The Academy of Realness, Fuck Book, 2014 — cover; red Silvine memo book with 'MEMO BOOK' label; stencilled 'FUCK BOOK' over original cover; price stickers from Koenig Books Ltd (£35.00 / £8.99) and yellow '20p' label; 'BRITISH MADE' printed at foot Catherine Holly / The Academy of Realness, Fuck Book, 2014 — interior spread; left page shows stencilled '2014 LONDON SEPT 03' with Melendez credit and receipt reference; right page shows stencilled 'FUCK THE REBEL' on lined paper

    Catherine Holly / The Academy of Realness — Fuck Book

    Catherine Holly / The Academy of Realness — Fuck Book

  • Already applied to the listing: > Rafael Melendez, *Born to Die*, 2016 — unique artist's book open to interior spread; left page shows circular form on dark denim-textured ground with 'Rafael Melendez ©2016' credit; right page shows black-and-white portrait of Kurt Cobain with blue text 'Money Changes Everything'; dos-à-dos binding visible at spine

    Rafael Melendez — Born to Die

    Rafael Melendez — Born to Die

  • Catherine Holly, After the Pressure the Cock, The Academy of Realness, New York 2014 — zine cover; hand-lettered title over photocopied image of Piero Gherardi costume design for Giulietta degli Spiriti (Fellini, 1965); black tape collage elements on white ground Catherine Holly, After the Pressure the Cock, 2014 — interior spread; two photocopied Marilyn Monroe portraits with handwritten text: 'I'm your mommy' and 'No yo soy tu mami'; black-and-white photocopy process

    Catherine Holly / The Academy of Realness — After the Pressure the Cock

    Catherine Holly / The Academy of Realness — After the Pressure the Cock

  • Rafael Melendez, After Sturtevant, The Academy of Realness, 2022 — pamphlet cover; blue monospaced typography on white stock; black fabric sculpture centred; subtitle: Linguistics, Idealism, Repetition, Difference and Ownership Rafael Melendez, After Sturtevant, 2022 — interior spread; left page shows Elaine Sturtevant portrait photograph with introductory text; right pages show reconstructed Richard Prince and Rafael Melendez SWAB Barcelona exhibition posters with running text on repetition and appropriation

    Rafael Melendez — After Sturtevant

    Rafael Melendez — After Sturtevant