Melcarth left his home in the U.K. to pursue his personal interests and career, studied at
Harvard University, the
Chelsea College of Arts, and
Stanley William Hayter's Atelier 17 in
Paris, a notable print studio where European modernists gathered and produced limited editions. In the Fall of 1951, he returned to Kentucky and taught at the
University of Louisville. His work revolved around masculinity, religion, portraiture, drug use, and the American scene. Melcarth's paintings of men and women riding motorbikes, enjoying the beach, and relaxing seem to enjoy looking and being looked at. The subject of his art included young, heterosexual, masculine men he had intimate relationships with who occupied jobs as
blue-collar workers, sailors,
hustlers, addicts, and trade positions. Often, the subjects depicted within his work were shared within other artists' work as well, including his roommate and close friend Thomas Painter. Painter was also Melcarth's connection to the
sexologist Alfred Kinsey, who would later study the theme of
homoeroticism within Melcarth's work. and sculptor. His awards included a grant from the
Institute of Arts and Letters in 1951, and its
Childe Hassam purchase award in 1965, the Altman prize of the
Chicago Art Institute in 1950, first prize for figure from the
National Academy of Design in 1964 and its
Thomas B. Clarke award in 1969. He was recognized as one of the top 19 young American artists by
Life (magazine) in 1950, and they reproduced one of his paintings in color. == FBI investigation ==