Tres Jolie Studios bio picture

Megan Renee Fizell

I am a Sydney-based art historian and writer concerned with the representation of food in the visual arts. My educational background commenced at the University of Michigan, where I majored in History of Art as well as English Literature. At UofM I acquired a broad art historical background that was further enhanced by a semester of study in Italy, as well as an art history trip to Mexico.

I completed my four-year degree in three years, with two majors and a proficiency in Latin. I immediately moved to London and began a master’s degree in Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. I graduated in April 2008 with merit and also achieved a merit on my dissertation, The Effects of Restoration on the Art Market Value of Ceramics. I subsequently wrote a tangent article considering contemporary artists exploring methods of repair and use in their work that was published in the December 2009 issue of Ceramics Monthly. In August 2010, the publication, Slow Burn - a century of Australian women artists from a private collection, I researched and co-authored was published in conjunction with an exhibition by the same title at the S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney. I have several forthcoming articles in publications ranging from Ceramics Monthly to Artlink and am a regular contributer to the 'Stir it Up' section of the Christian Science Monitor.

Professionally I worked first as an editorial intern at Sotheby’s Preview Magazine and then as an assistant at an urban art gallery. While working in London I had several short exhibition reviews published via online media outlets. Upon moving to Sydney, Australia I began employment as an associate in one of the leading galleries in the country and I began my own company, Tres Jolie Studios, where I work as a freelance writer, photographer and contributor to Getty Images. My food/art blog was launched at this time, and Getty later sourced many of the images shot for Feasting on Art for their collection.

I currently hold the Gallery Manager position at Brenda May Gallery in Sydney.


Monthly Archives: October 2008

Article :: Banksy Exhibition :: Environmental Graffiti

Art Writing :: Gallery Newsletters :: The Helium Foundation

Photo Project :: Everyday Alphabet :: 2004

Published :: Photography :: Lakland Boating Magazine

In October 2008 I photographed my friend Karen while we were hiking around northern Michigan. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was beautiful. We were on top of a huge sand dune and her size gave the landscape a great sense of scale. The photograph was used in the March 2008 issue of Lakeland Boating (top of page 44) for the article ‘The Sun Also Rises.’ No credit was given.

Lakeland Boating, March 2008. Photograph on top of page 44 of the article ‘The Sun Also Rises’, Not Credited.

Editorial Intern :: Sotheby’s Preview Magazine :: London

Published :: Banksy Copy Photography :: Hong Kong Magazines

Original copy photography

As a student at the University of Michigan I worked in the History of Art department processing images for the online study galleries. It was here that I learned extensive techniques for retouching images that had been scanned from discolored, damaged, cracked, and dirty slides as well as accurate colour matching. In addition to learning Photoshop skills we were trained in the art of copy photography which has been an invaluable technique to my employers. At my past job as an assistant at an urban art gallery I was asked to photograph our stock by the artist Banksy to have full resolution images for publication. These images, at the time that I shot them, were the only high resolution images available. My images were printed, without credit, in U Magazine, Time Out Hong Kong, Ming Pao Weekely & Harpers Bazaar Hong Kong.

Harpers Bazaar Hong Kong, June 2008, Copy Photography of Banksy’s Monkey Door 2, Bird with Grenade and Kate Moss.
Time Out Hong Kong, May 2008, Copy Photography of the four Banksy images of Kate Moss
U Magazine, May 2008, Copy Photography of the Banksy Canvas Bird with Grenade

Ming Pao Weekly, May 2008, Copy Photography of the Banksy canvas Rat With Saw