About

Melonee Temple Blocker was one of the early pioneer black artists, art educators and art collectors in Los Angeles. Born in 1921, Melonee excelled at drawing and painting. In 1945 she received her Bachelors Degree in Art and a California Teaching Credential from UCLA.

Throughout her 40 year teaching career Melonee’s paintings have been shown at LACMA and CAAM and are included in numerous permanent collections. She has been deemed an “Art Treasure” by the City of Los Angeles and the local media. Art historian Leonard Simon wrote in his catalogue review “Melonee Blocker’s color and form project a mood of magic onto their subjects, largely through her sensitivity to the evocative power of space, light and softly generalized brush work. Blocker communicates the lonely and nostalgic emptiness with the sweet intensity of a daydream.” Melonee passed away peacefully in 2006 at the age of of 85.

For the next 20 years her art was lost to the world in an old storage garage. In 2025 the art was rediscovered and restored. It is now again available for display. We at the Blocker Legacy Project are continuing to tell her story, exhibit her work and search for worthy stewards of her historic black art.

Black and white photograph of a person wearing glasses and a jacket, sitting on a carpeted floor with a plush toy and some objects nearby.

A woman and a young child are outdoors, with the woman smiling at the child. The woman is dressed in a checkered shirt and shoes, while the child is dressed in a light-colored jacket, dark shoes, and striped socks. The woman appears to be holding or

A young girl with curly hair is sitting on a horse, holding the reins, with a house and bush in the background. The girl is wearing a simple dress and socks with shoes. The horse has a saddle and bridle, and is standing outdoors.

A black and white photograph of a coin with intricate designs, partially buried in sand, with a small plant or root growing through it.

A young girl sitting on the engine of a vintage car, with an older woman seated inside. The scene is outdoors, with buildings in the background, and it is black and white.

Black-and-white photo of a group of children and a woman outdoors, smiling, with a background of open land and a lamppost.

An old black and white photo of four children and one woman, all sitting or standing in a row, wearing formal clothing. The photo shows signs of age, with scratches and dust.

Black and white photo of two women, one with dark curly hair and the other with straight hair, close-up portrait.

Black and white portrait of a woman with styled hair, wearing lipstick, with handwritten cursive letter in the background.

A woman with her hair tied back, wearing a dress with ruffled sleeves, is seated at a wooden table on a sandy beach, writing or drawing on a paper pad.

A woman sitting on the floor with two children, one on her lap and a toddler nearby, in a room with furniture and books.

Black and white photograph of four people standing outdoors. Three women and one man, with trees in the background. The women are dressed in skirts and blouses, with one wearing a necklace. The man is wearing glasses, a collared shirt, and pants. The

A black and white photo of a young woman sitting on a sidewalk outside a building, smiling. She has her knees up and is sitting next to a flower bed with a wooden fence. A car is parked partially on the left side of the image.

A black and white photograph of a young couple relaxing on a sandy beach. The woman has dark hair styled in two buns and is wearing a white halter top. The man is shirtless, wearing patterned shorts, and smiling at the camera. They are sitting close

A black and white photo of a wedding celebration with a bride and groom standing behind a table with a wedding cake and candles, surrounded by family and friends in a tented venue.

Black and white photo of a woman smiling, sitting on a sofa with her arm resting on a pillow, wearing a striped dress, in a living room with floor tiles and a wall with electrical outlets.

A woman wearing a t-shirt and wide-leg pants standing outdoors next to a wire fence with plants in the background.

Black and white photograph of six women walking together outdoors, wearing vintage flight uniforms and goggles, with one woman smiling and another touching her shoulder.

Black and white photograph of a group of people sitting and standing outdoors, some wearing jackets and hats, with a woman smiling at the camera.

Black and white photograph of a group of people seated at a dinner table during a festive celebration, with decorations and a display shelf in the background.

Black-and-white photo of three young women in graduation caps and gowns standing outdoors in a street with cars and utility poles in the background.

Room with women shopping or browsing, some wearing glasses, at a table filled with papers, magazines, and supplies, with lockers and storage cabinets in the background.

A woman sitting on the sand on a beach, smiling and clapping her hands. In the background, there are houses, palm trees, and a clear sky.

A person sitting on rocks near the shore, with flowers nearby, during what appears to be sunset or sunrise over a calm ocean.

A black-and-white photograph of a group of children standing outside in front of a building with a wire fence. The children appear to be posing for the photo, some looking directly at the camera while others are looking away. The children are dressed

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