Raised in California's Central Valley, Geneva Mello is a third generation Lodi resident. Staying close to her hometown, she received her BFA in Studio Art from University of the Pacific in 2007, concentrations in painting, drawing, and photography. She continued her education at California State University, Fresno where she received her MA in Art with honors in 2010. ​Using found photographs as a starting point, Geneva creates paintings and drawings inspired by myths, archetypes, dream imagery, and nostalgia. References to her Central Valley heritage appear in images of agriculture, the local landscape, and her own family. When not in her home studio, Geneva enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and volunteering in the community. She is a Lodi Arts Commissioner, a youth services chair for the Lodi Rotary Club, and a lead organizer for the Lodi Open Studios Tour.