What gets Melissa up in the morning? Coffee, of course, she’s Italian. But lately, it’s something more. She has come to realise that something is out there waiting for her – something she’s meant to create, experience, and become. That something might have always been there, bubbling to the surface. One of her most vivid childhood memories is from her grandparents’ house, where she built a sculpture using random tools and objects she found lying around. Her creative ambition to transform what’s around her into something new, shaping ideas into tangible forms, has been a constant evolution. And now, she has the courage to claim it.

Melissa, also known as What If, takes her name from a question that has always followed her: “What happens if?” This curiosity has been the driving force behind her creative journey, particularly in her exploration of AI as an artistic tool. It was this same inquisitiveness that led her to experiment with AI and continues to shape her evolving artistic path.

With a diploma in photography and screenwriting, both disciplines play a significant role in her work. Photography has always been an essential part of her creative process, just as AI has become in recent years. Her artistic approach is defined by a relentless pursuit of aesthetic and conceptual innovation, drawing inspiration from romanticism in all its forms—even the most unexpected ones.

Melissa’s work carries a playful, dreamlike essence, fueled by an enduring sense of childlike wonder. Surrealism, which first captivated her during art school, remains a recurring theme in her creations, alongside an ongoing quest for the perfect image—despite knowing that perfection may be unattainable.

Eyes are a constant obsession in her work, a symbol she revisits and reinterprets in endless ways. Each day, she feels compelled to express her thoughts and ambitions through a fusion of traditional techniques and digital tools like AI.

Guided by an unyielding desire—to explore, to create, to push the boundaries of what is possible—Melissa strives to craft works that evoke deep emotions and inspire a sense of wonder and discovery.

For Melissa, AI marks the beginning of a new world—a shift in how we create, communicate, and innovate. She hopes it will also be a greener one, where AI is not just a tool for pushing creative and technological boundaries but also a force for sustainability, reducing waste, optimising resources, and contributing to a better future.

Melissa is also one of the founders of AI Muses – a platform and community that is empowering woman to reshape art & technology by supporting, promoting, and giving a voice to female artists using AI.