MELVIN "MILKY" WAY


Melvin Way was discovered in a mental health program at a homeless shelter during an HAI workshop when Way revealed his enigmatic formulae resembling hieroglyphics. Way has rarely joined any collective art-making situation but maintains a relationship with HAI, visiting regularly and sharing his work. Way’s drawings have been shown extensively and sold beyond The Gallery at HAI.

In his early 50’s, Way was born in South Carolina and moved between South Carolina and Brooklyn during his childhood. He worked as a machinist and played bass guitar in a band before the onset of mental illness. Eventually homeless, Way stayed in a shelter for a long time before moving to a supportive apartment program. Way continues to be fiercely independent.

His formulae, which he never refers to as art, has drawn considerable attention and sales. He has been the subject of a feature article in Raw Vision and his art has been reproduced in The New York Times. After selling a work to collectors, he requested that they be informed that they should not try to create formula in the drawing as it was extremely powerful and dangerous.