Education: The Ohio State University, BA English Literature

Awards

The Hahnemuhle Award, The Center for Fine Art Photography, 2018, Portfolio Showcase 11

Selected for “Most Interesting Photobooks 2018” - The Photobook Journal

Selected for “Photobooks of 2018” - 10x10 Photobooks

Selected for “Most Interesting Photobooks 2019”- The Photobook Journal

All About Photo “Rising Photographer” portfolio ;

https://www.all-about-photo.com/photographers/photographer/813/melissa-lazuka

Exhibitions

2021-2022

Thinking About Photography Photobook Showcase, Fall of 2022-

https://www.thinkingaboutphotography.com/artist-books

Photobook Exhibition at Grassi Museum, Germany - 'Photobooks. Art Page by Page' 11/25/21 through 4/3/22 - fly away #14 was included in this exhibition

“The definition of the photobook is as broad as that of photography, and ranges from handmade unique objects to smaller and larger print runs, from self-publishing and zines to rare, elaborately designed and bound editions. The exhibition shows a selection of German and international photobooks from the last decades, with a focus on exceptional design and storytelling. Curated by Calin Kruse and Silvia Gaetti.”
https://www.dienacht-magazine.com/2021/11/24/photobooks-art-page-by-page

2019

The Center for Fine Art Photography, “Black and White”, Juror, Geoffrey Koslov

Photoplace Gallery, “Water”, Online Exhibition, Juror, Elizabeth Avedon

PhotoPlace Gallery, “Black and White 2019”, Juror, Jennifer Schlesinger

2018

Photoplace Gallery, "Black and White", Juror, Sandrine-Hermand Grisel

The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO , "Fly Away" series included in the Portfolio Showcase Volume 11, Juror, Cathy Kimball

Photoplace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont  "Myths, Legends, and Dreams" Juror, Amy Holmes-George

SE Center for Photography, Greenville, South Carolina " Shades of Black and White" Juror, Susan Burnstine

2017

 A Smith Gallery,  "Summertime" Juror,  Sandrine Hermand-Grisel

Photoplace Gallery,  "Honoring Trees" Juror, Laura Valenti

2016

Photoplace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont, "Personal Narrative" Juror, Susan Burnstine

The Center For Fine Art Photography, "Dreams"

PhotoPlace Gallery, "Flight" Juror, Laura Moya

Awarded the Juror's Award

The Cleveland Print Room, "Human Nature" , The Peer Show

2015

 The Center for Fine Art Photography, "Illuminate" Juror, Elizabeth Avedon, 

 The Center for Fine Art Photography, "Landscapes" Juror, Chantel Paul, 

Publications

Review of artist book, “Song of the Cicadas” by Douglas Stockdale - The Photobook Journal

Review of artist book, “Song of the Cicadas” by Sabrina Mandanici - Collector Daily https://collectordaily.com/melissa-lazuka-song-of-the-cicadas

Review of artist book, “Fly Away” by Douglas Stockdale - The Photobook Journal

Photo of the Day, Don’t Take Pictures Magazine, https://www.donttakepictures.com/photo-of-the-day/2018/11/26/melissa-lazuka

Artist of the Month, Fantastically Flawed,  http://fantasticallyflawed.weebly.com/featured-artist/melissa-lazuka