Marcelo Daldoce

Born in Brazil and based in Philadelphia, Marcelo Daldoce is an artist, educator, and founder of Watercolor School of Art. He earned his MFA from the New York Academy of Art, where he taught watercolor for more than a decade and developed the Contemporary Drawing Techniques course for their MFA program.

He has also taught Figure in Watercolor at the Art Students League of New York for over six years, in addition to teaching at institutions throughout the United States and Brazil.

As a painter, draftsman, and lifelong student of art history, Marcelo combines classical principles with contemporary artistic practice, helping artists develop confidence, technical skill, and a deeper understanding of their craft.

Watercolor School of Art

Founded in 2026, Watercolor School of Art is the culmination of more than a decade of teaching, mentorship, and artistic practice. Formerly known as Watermelon Studio, the school was created to offer serious artists a structured path of study beyond isolated techniques and short-term workshops.

Its philosophy is rooted in the belief that artistic growth comes through consistent practice, thoughtful observation, openness to change, meaningful mentorship, and a strong foundation in drawing and painting. By integrating watercolor, composition, color theory, art history, and practical studio habits, the school helps artists build confidence, clarity, and lasting artistic growth.

Click Here to Watch Marcelo Paint Rajiv Surendra

CV

EDUCATION

2016 - MFA, New York Academy of Art, NYC, NY


1996 - School of arts Carlos de Campos, São Paulo, Brazil


SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024 - Plants, LUMIÈRE Contemporary Art Gallery, Cyprus, Europe

2018 - Telégrafos, Collier West Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 

2017 - Left Right, Collier West Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 

2016 - to... , West Nottingham Gates Gallery Exhibit, MD


SELECTED MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

2017 - Jetzt Druck Machen, Angerlehner Museum, Thalheim bei Wels, Austria

2016 - Só Cabeças, The Museum of Modern Art of Bahia (MAM-BA), Bahia, Brasil 


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024 - Death Card, Big Ramp Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2023 - Take Home a Nude, Sotheby’s, NYC, NY

2020 - Juxtapoz & Sugarlift Present "ME: An Exhibition of Contemporary Self-Portraiture", High Line Nine, NYC, NY

2019 - BOROUGH5, Black Diamond Gallery, NYC, NY

2019 - Same Rivers’ and ‘Other Waters’ – Watercolor Today, Collier West Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2019 - New York Academy of Art Summer Exhibition, New York Academy of Art, NYC, NY

2019 - Mother and Child II, Sugarlift, NYC, NY

2019 - Living Under the Canopy, Anthony Horth Gallery, NYC, NY

2018 - Art Miami /Art Basel Week, New York Academy of Art Booth, Miami, FL

2018 - Art on Postcard, Building 8, London, UK


2018 - Take Home a Nude, Sotheby’s, NYC, NY

2018 - Little but Fierce, ChaShaMa Union Square, NYC, NY


2018 - Mother and Child, Sugarlift / 198 Allen st, NYC, NY

2018 - Figurations, Untitled Space, NYC, NY

2018 - Art on Paper Fair, Sugarlift booth, NYC, NY


2018 - Sedimente, Spinnerei Werkschau (hall 12), Leipzig, Germany


2017 - Through the Eyes of an Artist, Panepinto Galleries, Jersey City, NJ 

2017 - Sugarlift Open Studios, Sugarlift / 393 Broadway, NYC, NY


2017 - Art New York Fair, New York Academy of Art Booth, NYC, NY


2017 - She Inspires, The Untitled Space, NYC, NY


2016 - Take Home a Nude, Sotheby’s, NYC, NY


2016 - PARADIGMA - Blickwechsel II_Arbeitswelten, Tapetenwerk, Leipzig, Germany

2016 - Etching as Language, New York Academy of Art, NYC, NY 

2015 - LIA Summer Show , LIA, Leipzig, Germany


2015 - Summer Exhibition, Flowers Gallery, NYC, NY


2015 - Tabula Rasa, Galeria Ca’d’oro, NYC, NY


2014 - Como Refazer o Mundo, Galeria Luiz Fernando Landeiro, Bahia, Brazil 

2013 - World of Art Showcase, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC 

2012 - Context / Art Miami, Cancio Contemporary Booth, Miami, FL

2012 - World of Art Showcase, Wynn Hotel/Casino, Las Vegas, NV

2012 - Hunting-for-Bodies, Jorge Hulian Gallery, Miami, FL


2012 - PORTRAITISTS, Rubem Robierb Gallery, Miami, FL


2011 - Tea Party 4BASEL, Rubem Robierb Gallery, Miami, FL

2011 - ME TOO: All the Same: Audrey Love Gallery, Miami, FL


2011 - Poster PeepShow:The Art of the Pin Up, Gallery Nucleus, Los Angeles, CA


AWARDS

2019 - The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award, Québec, Canada


2017 - The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award, Québec, Canada


2015 - Joan Brady Award, NYC, NY


2015 - Jeannie Rose & John L. Weinberg Charitable Trust Scholarship, NYC, NY 

2014 - The New York Academy of Art Scholarship, NYC, NY


RESIDENCIES

2016 - West Nottingham Academy, Eric Fischl Residency, Colora, MD 

2015 - LIA, Artist in Residence, Leipzig, Germany


2011-12 - Bakehouse Art Complex, Artist in Residence, Miami, FL