[4] After earning an AB in art history from Princeton University in 1952, he moved to Japan where he taught English for four years after he declared himself a conscientious objector to the Korean War.
[5] Throughout his career, Melchert worked with many media, including painting, drawing, performance art, film, and most notably sculpture and ceramics.
[6] His unique process involves breaking down, drawing on, and reassembling ceramic tiles before painting the new constructions with glaze.
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha was one of his notable students at UC Berkeley.
[3] Melchert died at his Oakland, California, home on June 1, 2023, at the age of 92, of complications from a stroke he suffered in April.