Melissa Diaz received her Master’s Degree in Art History from University of South Florida where her area of concentration was the early works of Michelangelo Pistoletto and his involvement with Arte Povera. She has held positions in several museums and galleries throughout South Florida including the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, David Castillo Gallery, and Miami Art Museum (now Perez Art Museum Miami). Additionally, she participated in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection internship program in Venice, Italy, where she was the first recipient of the Liesbeth Bollen Internship Fund. As an independent curator, Melissa has organized several contemporary art exhibitions in South Florida. She has taught courses in art history and museum studies for Miami Dade College and Florida International University.