Her work spans video games, CGI imagery and films, immersive installations and virtual reality experiences.
Primarily developed with real-time engines, her personal works have been shown internationally. Her practice draws on the codes and structures of video games, taking gameplay itself as raw material. She focuses on core mechanics (tutorials, quests, NPCs, boss fights, save points…) and uses them to question the logics of play and the assumptions embedded within them. By reworking these familiar structures, she creates sensitive meta-games in which the rules of play are subverted to reveal new layers of meaning.
Alongside her artistic practice, she directs commissioned projects for luxury, fashion and high jewelry, guiding brands in exploring the language and aesthetics of video games and interactive media.
She also works closely with creators from cultural fields such as cinema, theatre, dance, offering artistic direction and interactive design, helping translate each author's vision into meaningful digital experiences.
Mélanie is a recurring guest lecturer in video-game history and digital humanities at ECAL. She regularly gives talks, mentors students, and serves on juries across Europe and North America.
SELECTED CLIENTS
LVMH
Hermès
Cartier
Van Cleef & Arpels
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Dolce & Gabbana
Guerlain
Orveda
Vogue Czechoslovakia
Ubisoft
Tétier Bijoux
ARTE
Mazarine Group
Helmut agency
MNSTR agency
Dixon
Jennifer Cardini
Agar Agar
LVMH
Hermès
Cartier
Van Cleef & Arpels
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Dolce & Gabbana
Guerlain
Orveda
Vogue Czechoslovakia
Ubisoft
Tétier Bijoux
ARTE
Mazarine Group
Helmut agency
MNSTR agency
Dixon
Jennifer Cardini
Agar Agar
EXHIBITIONS AND FESTIVALS
Forthcoming
Enter Here, Kunstmuseum, Bern
ELEKTRA, Biennale internationale d'art numérique, Montréal
Alternate Realities, Sheffield DocFest, Sheffield
2026
Picture Perfect, BOZAR, Bruxelles
Screentime/s, Casino Luxembourg
Eyes without a face, New Galerie, Paris
Animatex Festival, El Cairo
Festival ZERO1, La Rochelle
NewImages Festival, Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, Paris
Arsobit: Game Playing Society, Gallery 9.5, Kyoto
Hybrid+, Le Sample, Bagnolet
2025
Indulto (solo show), New Galerie, Paris
Faites vos jeux, rien ne va plus (solo show), Stereolux, Nantes
The Siren (solo show), Gray Area, San Francisco
Tales From The Real World (duo show), Octobre Numérique, Arles
Gothiques, Louvre-Lens
Berserk & Pyrrhia, Le Plateau and Les Réserves, Frac Île-de-France, Paris
UXdoc, Rencontres internationales du documentaire, Montréal
Confort me, A MAZE, Panke Gallery, Berlin
Next Level, Künstlerhaus, Dortmund
Realities+D, Sónar, Barcelona
Future Gaming, Braga Media Arts, Braga
2024
HEK Special Guest, LISTE Art Fair Basel
Netflix and Chill, New Galerie, Paris
Final Girl, Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris
Anticipation Festival, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris
Linoleum Animation Festival, Kyiv
NIFF Extended, Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
Night of Ideas, Villa Albertine, Jersey City
Distraction - Gaming Session, Confort Mental, Paris
MAX3MIN Festival, Milan
Biennale NOVA_XX, Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris
Vivre l'œuvre - Voyage aux frontières de l'art immersif contemporain, Musée d'art de Pully
Me and who?, Le port des créateurs, Toulon
Open Factory, Le Centquatre, Paris
Festival Varilux de Cinema Francês, Brasil
NODO Fest Equator, Quito
Néo-matérialités, Le Cube Garges, Garges-lès-Gonesse
2023
The House of Pain, New Galerie, Paris
DOQUMENTA, Querétaro
Competencia VR, Festival de Cortos de Bogotá
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Bucheon
Transmoderna, Artsdistrict Brooklyn, New York
Anidox, Viborg Animation Festival, Viborg
Festival européen du film fantastique, Strasbourg
Nuit Blanche, Le Consulat Voltaire, Paris
Animafest Zagreb, Zagreb
Jeden svět, International human rights film festival, Prague
It’s dangerous to go alone!, Galerie Edouard Manet, Gennevilliers
Festival Côté Court, Pantin
Animation First Festival, New York
International Film festival Rotterdam (IFFR), Rotterdam
Festival international du film documentairee (FIPADOC), Biarritz
Prenons rendez-vous, Meyrin
Issue 5 Group Show, Studio Magazine, Zurich
Forthcoming
Enter Here, Kunstmuseum, Bern
ELEKTRA, Biennale internationale d'art numérique, Montréal
Alternate Realities, Sheffield DocFest, Sheffield
2026
Picture Perfect, BOZAR, Bruxelles
Screentime/s, Casino Luxembourg
Eyes without a face, New Galerie, Paris
Animatex Festival, El Cairo
Festival ZERO1, La Rochelle
NewImages Festival, Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, Paris
Arsobit: Game Playing Society, Gallery 9.5, Kyoto
Hybrid+, Le Sample, Bagnolet
2025
Indulto (solo show), New Galerie, Paris
Faites vos jeux, rien ne va plus (solo show), Stereolux, Nantes
The Siren (solo show), Gray Area, San Francisco
Tales From The Real World (duo show), Octobre Numérique, Arles
Gothiques, Louvre-Lens
Berserk & Pyrrhia, Le Plateau and Les Réserves, Frac Île-de-France, Paris
UXdoc, Rencontres internationales du documentaire, Montréal
Confort me, A MAZE, Panke Gallery, Berlin
Next Level, Künstlerhaus, Dortmund
Realities+D, Sónar, Barcelona
Future Gaming, Braga Media Arts, Braga
2024
HEK Special Guest, LISTE Art Fair Basel
Netflix and Chill, New Galerie, Paris
Final Girl, Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris
Anticipation Festival, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris
Linoleum Animation Festival, Kyiv
NIFF Extended, Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
Night of Ideas, Villa Albertine, Jersey City
Distraction - Gaming Session, Confort Mental, Paris
MAX3MIN Festival, Milan
Biennale NOVA_XX, Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris
Vivre l'œuvre - Voyage aux frontières de l'art immersif contemporain, Musée d'art de Pully
Me and who?, Le port des créateurs, Toulon
Open Factory, Le Centquatre, Paris
Festival Varilux de Cinema Francês, Brasil
NODO Fest Equator, Quito
Néo-matérialités, Le Cube Garges, Garges-lès-Gonesse
2023
The House of Pain, New Galerie, Paris
DOQUMENTA, Querétaro
Competencia VR, Festival de Cortos de Bogotá
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Bucheon
Transmoderna, Artsdistrict Brooklyn, New York
Anidox, Viborg Animation Festival, Viborg
Festival européen du film fantastique, Strasbourg
Nuit Blanche, Le Consulat Voltaire, Paris
Animafest Zagreb, Zagreb
Jeden svět, International human rights film festival, Prague
It’s dangerous to go alone!, Galerie Edouard Manet, Gennevilliers
Festival Côté Court, Pantin
Animation First Festival, New York
International Film festival Rotterdam (IFFR), Rotterdam
Festival international du film documentairee (FIPADOC), Biarritz
Prenons rendez-vous, Meyrin
Issue 5 Group Show, Studio Magazine, Zurich
2022
La Biennale di Venezia - Immersive selection, Venice
Photomode: Out there in Games, Ideal Glass Studios, New York
Hyperscapes, Kornhausforum, Bern
Revolution V52, Caen and Marseille
GIFF - Geneva International Film Festival, Geneva
The Art of Play, 3537, Paris
Octobre Numérique, Arles
London Film Festival (BFI), London
DOK Neuland, Leipzig
Transmoderna, NTX Museum, Amsterdam
BLON Festival, Klaipėda
2021
REFRESH #4, Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, Zurich
Oslo Night, House of Electronic Arts (HEK), Basel
Palais Augmenté, Le Grand Palais, Paris
Current New Medias, Santa Fe
New Images Festival, Paris
Originelles, Galerie Charlot, Paris
Recto Vrso, Laval
2020
The Planet's Voices, Biennal de Pensament, Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, Barcelona
2019
Summer Show, Galerie Lily Robert, Paris
LVMH Pavilion, Paris
New Images Festival, Paris
Devenirs Terrestres, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris
2018
La Biennale d’art contemporain, Lyon
La Totale, Studios Orta, Boissy-Le-Châtel
Tokyo Game Show, Tokyo
Nordic Games, Malmö
FILE, Electronic Language International Festival, São Paulo
Les Rencontres du Septième Art, Lausanne
VR Arles Festival, Rencontres d’Arles
Huis van de Vlaamse film, Brussels
2017
Paris Electronic Week, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris
NASSCOM India, Hyderabad
2016
When Objects Dream, Salone del Mobile, Milan
Personne Publique, Galerie Pazioli, Lausanne
Pier 17 opening, San Francisco
RESIDENCIES
2027, La Becque, Programme principal, La Tour-de-Peilz
2026, Atelier Grand Nord XR, Montreal
2024, Villa Formose, Taiwan
2024, Atelier Grand Nord XR (as a mentor), Montreal
2024, Résidence Evil II (as a mentor), l’Abri, Geneva
2023, Résidence Evil, (as a mentor), l’Abri, Geneva
2022, Digital Playgrounds, Villa Albertine, New York
2021, Imprudence residency for speculative design, Paris
2021, Résidences EXECAL à La Becque, La Tour-de-Peilz
2018, Fabbula VR residency, Barcelona
2027, La Becque, Programme principal, La Tour-de-Peilz
2026, Atelier Grand Nord XR, Montreal
2024, Villa Formose, Taiwan
2024, Atelier Grand Nord XR (as a mentor), Montreal
2024, Résidence Evil II (as a mentor), l’Abri, Geneva
2023, Résidence Evil, (as a mentor), l’Abri, Geneva
2022, Digital Playgrounds, Villa Albertine, New York
2021, Imprudence residency for speculative design, Paris
2021, Résidences EXECAL à La Becque, La Tour-de-Peilz
2018, Fabbula VR residency, Barcelona
SELECTED PRESS AND PODCASTS
Mélanie Courtinat, créatrice de mondes numériques, Le Temps
Mélanie Courtinat, l'interview-fleuve, Fisheye Magazine
When the game plays you, Refresh.art
No hit run, Continue tu m'intéresses, avec Patrick Baud
Mélanie Courtinat, Temple Magazine
EVERYTHINGISM – Mélanie Courtinat, PROJETS Média
Mélanie Courtinat, artiste et créatrice de jeux vidéo, La Matinale, RTS
Il devient difficile de se souvenir d’un monde dépourvu de “numérique”, Fisheye Magazine
Mélanie Courtinat, Tracks by Arte
Beyond the real world (Mimo reálný svět), Vogue Czechoslovakia
The Tenth art podcast, Ubisoft
Le face-à-face artistique de deux gameurs nostalgiques, Le Monde
Interview with digital art expert Mélanie Courtinat, Forward Festival
Au GIFF, Mélanie Courtinat émeut grâce à un jeu vidéo immersif, RTS
Créer un film en VR, c’est comme jouer avec des Lego, mais en plus magique, Usbek & Rica
Mélanie Courtinat, créatrice de mondes numériques, Le Temps
Mélanie Courtinat, l'interview-fleuve, Fisheye Magazine
When the game plays you, Refresh.art
No hit run, Continue tu m'intéresses, avec Patrick Baud
Mélanie Courtinat, Temple Magazine
EVERYTHINGISM – Mélanie Courtinat, PROJETS Média
Mélanie Courtinat, artiste et créatrice de jeux vidéo, La Matinale, RTS
Il devient difficile de se souvenir d’un monde dépourvu de “numérique”, Fisheye Magazine
Mélanie Courtinat, Tracks by Arte
Beyond the real world (Mimo reálný svět), Vogue Czechoslovakia
The Tenth art podcast, Ubisoft
Le face-à-face artistique de deux gameurs nostalgiques, Le Monde
Interview with digital art expert Mélanie Courtinat, Forward Festival
Au GIFF, Mélanie Courtinat émeut grâce à un jeu vidéo immersif, RTS
Créer un film en VR, c’est comme jouer avec des Lego, mais en plus magique, Usbek & Rica
LECTURES & PANELS
2026
Challenges for Future Art × Game Expression, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto
XR Stories beyond Film and Games, Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie, Paris
2025
The Importance of Art, AI, and Impact in Video Games, Villa Albertine, San Francisco
Game Worlds as Cultural Infrastructures: The Role of Video Games in Europe’s Emerging Creative Industries, Braga Media Arts, Braga
Distraction Collective: Friends from the Space Between, A MAZE, Berlin
How to Build a Sustainable Model in Contemporary Digital Art, Gray Area, San Francisco
About the Swiss Immersive Ecosystem, New Images Festival, Paris
2024
Mélanie Courtinat, Forward Festival, Berlin
Internet Horror, Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, Neuchâtel
Panel Discussion, Musée d’art de Pully, Pully
Panel Discussion, Mapping Festival, Geneva
Développer un modèle économique durable et innovant dans les arts numériques, Women in Digital by KIKK Festival, Namur
Chaillot Experience: Anthropocène, Théâtre de Chaillot, Paris
Don’t Be Afraid of Video Games!, Swiss Interactive Media Design Day, St. Gallen
2023
Beyond sound, vision, Amsterdam Dance Event, Amsterdam Semi-marathon, Worldbuilding opening, Centre Pompidou Metz
Playing Narrative, Serbian games association, Belgrade
Artist talk, Immersity 6, Angoulême
2022
Hyperscapes, Kornhausforum, Bern
Photo Mode in video games, Ideal Glass Studios, New York
Faire monde, Octobre Numérique, Arles
Video Games, beyond entertainment, 3537, Paris
Total Conversion, Galerie Forde, Geneva
Keeping up with web3 creation, Meta Panel, Paris
2021
Visual Contagions through the Lens of New Media, University of Geneva
Connecting with others, Grand Palais, Paris
2020
Artist talk, Synthesis Gallery, Berlin
Engaging the audience in virtual reality, Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds, Brussels
2018
Virtual reality for creation, Rolex Forum, Lausanne
Materials of virtual reality, VR Arles Festival, Arles
2017
Representations of female characters in video games, Unite India, Hyderabad
2026
Challenges for Future Art × Game Expression, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto
XR Stories beyond Film and Games, Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie, Paris
2025
The Importance of Art, AI, and Impact in Video Games, Villa Albertine, San Francisco
Game Worlds as Cultural Infrastructures: The Role of Video Games in Europe’s Emerging Creative Industries, Braga Media Arts, Braga
Distraction Collective: Friends from the Space Between, A MAZE, Berlin
How to Build a Sustainable Model in Contemporary Digital Art, Gray Area, San Francisco
About the Swiss Immersive Ecosystem, New Images Festival, Paris
2024
Mélanie Courtinat, Forward Festival, Berlin
Internet Horror, Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, Neuchâtel
Panel Discussion, Musée d’art de Pully, Pully
Panel Discussion, Mapping Festival, Geneva
Développer un modèle économique durable et innovant dans les arts numériques, Women in Digital by KIKK Festival, Namur
Chaillot Experience: Anthropocène, Théâtre de Chaillot, Paris
Don’t Be Afraid of Video Games!, Swiss Interactive Media Design Day, St. Gallen
2023
Beyond sound, vision, Amsterdam Dance Event, Amsterdam Semi-marathon, Worldbuilding opening, Centre Pompidou Metz
Playing Narrative, Serbian games association, Belgrade
Artist talk, Immersity 6, Angoulême
2022
Hyperscapes, Kornhausforum, Bern
Photo Mode in video games, Ideal Glass Studios, New York
Faire monde, Octobre Numérique, Arles
Video Games, beyond entertainment, 3537, Paris
Total Conversion, Galerie Forde, Geneva
Keeping up with web3 creation, Meta Panel, Paris
2021
Visual Contagions through the Lens of New Media, University of Geneva
Connecting with others, Grand Palais, Paris
2020
Artist talk, Synthesis Gallery, Berlin
Engaging the audience in virtual reality, Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds, Brussels
2018
Virtual reality for creation, Rolex Forum, Lausanne
Materials of virtual reality, VR Arles Festival, Arles
2017
Representations of female characters in video games, Unite India, Hyderabad
ACADEMIC TEACHING
Teaching positions (recurring)
2021-2027, History of Video Games, ECAL, Lausanne
2025-2027, Digital Humanities, ECAL, Lausanne
Workshops
2023–2026, Beaux-Arts de Paris
2023-2026, Bachelor Camera Arts, Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art, Lucerne
2023, Master Photography, ECAL, Lausanne
2024, Schule für Gestaltung, St. Gallen
2024, Killscreen Gallery, Los Angeles
2023, Master Fashion Image, Institut Français de la Mode, Paris
2023, Bachelor Plasticien FX, EICAR, Paris
2021, Bachelor Graphiste Jeux Vidéo, GOBELINS, Paris
Mentorship
2025-2026, Mentor, Passerelles Program, Contemporaines, Paris
2024-2025, Class Mentor, Master Immersive Design & Experience, GOBELINS, Paris
Academic jury
2023-2025, Thesis Projects Review, Bachelor Media & Interaction Design, ECAL, Lausanne
2024, Diploma Projects Review, Master Video Games, ICAN, Paris
2023, Diploma Projects Review, Master and DSAA Image Média Éditorial, École Duperré, Paris
Guest lectures
2026, Parsons School of Design, Paris
2025, ECAL, Lausanne
2024, EICAR, Paris
2023, Amsterdam Fashion Institute
2023, Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art, Lucerne
2022, Institut Français de la Mode, Paris
2022, University of the Arts London
2021, Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich
2021, École Nationale Supérieure de Paysage de Versailles
Teaching positions (recurring)
2021-2027, History of Video Games, ECAL, Lausanne
2025-2027, Digital Humanities, ECAL, Lausanne
Workshops
2023–2026, Beaux-Arts de Paris
2023-2026, Bachelor Camera Arts, Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art, Lucerne
2023, Master Photography, ECAL, Lausanne
2024, Schule für Gestaltung, St. Gallen
2024, Killscreen Gallery, Los Angeles
2023, Master Fashion Image, Institut Français de la Mode, Paris
2023, Bachelor Plasticien FX, EICAR, Paris
2021, Bachelor Graphiste Jeux Vidéo, GOBELINS, Paris
Mentorship
2025-2026, Mentor, Passerelles Program, Contemporaines, Paris
2024-2025, Class Mentor, Master Immersive Design & Experience, GOBELINS, Paris
Academic jury
2023-2025, Thesis Projects Review, Bachelor Media & Interaction Design, ECAL, Lausanne
2024, Diploma Projects Review, Master Video Games, ICAN, Paris
2023, Diploma Projects Review, Master and DSAA Image Média Éditorial, École Duperré, Paris
Guest lectures
2026, Parsons School of Design, Paris
2025, ECAL, Lausanne
2024, EICAR, Paris
2023, Amsterdam Fashion Institute
2023, Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art, Lucerne
2022, Institut Français de la Mode, Paris
2022, University of the Arts London
2021, Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich
2021, École Nationale Supérieure de Paysage de Versailles
JURY
2024-2026, Immersive Media Design Award, St. Gallen
2023-2026, Support Fund for Digital Experiences, Cinéforum, Switzerland
2023-2025, Support Fund for Video Games (FAJV), Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC), France
2024, Prix Émergences, La SCAM, France
2023, Digital Experimentation & Innovation Awards, Le Club des Directeurs Artistiques, Paris
2023, Virtual Reality Selection, Sehsüchte Film Festival, Potsdam-Babelsberg
2023, Art Games Jam, Octobre Numérique, Arles
2022, Photo Mode Exhibition, Ubisoft, New York
2022, Future Is Sensible Award, Geneva International Film Festival, Geneva
2024-2026, Immersive Media Design Award, St. Gallen
2023-2026, Support Fund for Digital Experiences, Cinéforum, Switzerland
2023-2025, Support Fund for Video Games (FAJV), Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC), France
2024, Prix Émergences, La SCAM, France
2023, Digital Experimentation & Innovation Awards, Le Club des Directeurs Artistiques, Paris
2023, Virtual Reality Selection, Sehsüchte Film Festival, Potsdam-Babelsberg
2023, Art Games Jam, Octobre Numérique, Arles
2022, Photo Mode Exhibition, Ubisoft, New York
2022, Future Is Sensible Award, Geneva International Film Festival, Geneva