photo by Clayre Saxon
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Nicole Strafaci is a multi-media artist. Primarily a collage artist, she has also created wearable art and soft sculpture and has written and executed solo performance pieces. The artist lived in Los Angeles for 13 years. LA expanded her creative repertoire to include performance, writing and fashion.
Currently based in Frenchtown NJ, Nicole grew up in Central NJ in a home filled with Victorian furniture and an enormous collection of tchotchkes. These odd juxtapositions made a lasting impression and instilled an affinity for collage. Her mother's vintage business inspires her work and nurtured a great love for vintage fabrics, period clothing and treasure hunting. Scouring thrift and antique shops, Nicole finds beauty and inspiration in discarded objects.
The artist received a BFA in Photography from Montclair State University in 1994 with studies abroad in Italy and Holland. Her love of collage was further developed in the darkroom when she witnessed portraits appear in the developer. The transition from photographic live subject to printed image was a defining experience for her akin to a sort of psychological collage. She began creating her first collages. One of these early works was sold to Director of Imaging and Photography at the Museum of Modern Art, NYC.
Nicole's work is included in private collections in the US and abroad and she has participated in many juried group shows and 11 solo exhibitions. She has received 3 “Best in Show" awards and an “Award of Excellence.” In 2019 she won “Best In Show” from painter and collage artist Jill Kerwick at a group exhibition at the Bernardsville Library (Bernardsville,NJ). Also in 2019, Nicole received an “Award of Excellence “ from a group exhibition at The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster NJ. In 1996 she won “Best in Show” at Westbeth Gallery in NYC from the internationally esteemed art critic, poet, essayist and educator David Levi Strauss. In 1995 she won “Best in Show” and was awarded a solo exhibition at the Watchung Art Center (Watchung, NJ).
Other notable projects and achievements include an enthusiastic review of her work by legendary photographer Duane Michals, features of her work in Kolaj Magazine and The Hand Magazine, co-hosting an art panel discussion, art commissions, international distribution of her work and writing reviews for a Los Angeles based art magazine. In 2019 Nicole began a project called Art Body; a monthly art and culture discussion and live stream. Nicole cohosts Art Body with M Galleries in Washington, NJ. She was commissioned to create wearable art for NY Times best selling author Kami Garcia and has sold her collage cards to boutiques, and stores including Neiman Marcus and Barneys.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I think of my pieces as living creatures. Time spent creating is the closest I will come to giving birth. I breathe life into the creative impulse; observing and reworking as the art takes on a life of its own and becomes a kind of portal. Through this portal, I hope to communicate on a visceral level. I believe that if we delve deep inside the personal experiences of our lives, we transcend them and communicate on a universal level.
In the studio, I am endlessly alternating between conscious choice and chance; intentional mark making and the unexpected beautiful accidents. My collage paintings often include found images, fabric, painting and drawing. Subject matter is figurative and or abstract and explores such topics as femininity, beauty, environmental decay and natural and urban landscapes.
Awards
2020
Featured Artist from the Kolaj Magazine artist directory “This week at Kolaj” September 12
2019
"Award of Excellence" The Center for Contemporary Art Members Exhibition and Sale, The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster, NJ
Awarded "Best in Show" by painter and collage artist Jill Kerwick ,The Center for Contemporary Art Members Juried Exhibition, Bernardsville Library, Bernardsville, NJ
1996
Awarded "Best in Show" by internationally esteemed art critic, poet, essayist and educator David Levi Strauss, Montclair in Manhattan III, Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY
1995
"Best in Show" at an art competition at the Watchung Art Center, Watchung, NJ - the prize was a solo exhibition at the center
Solo Exhibitions
2020
Claustrophobic Boudoir (Year 50) , M Galleries, Washington, NJ
2019
DreamWhirl: Paintings and Performance Video , M Galleries, Washington, NJ
"Nightmares Become Beauty - Collage Paintings" , Galeria Vida Global Exhibit 04.2019 -06.2019, Los Angeles, CA
2011
Postcard Paintings: Images of Beauty, Aequanimitas Boutique and Gallery, Portland, OR
2009
In a Box: Paintings,Dolls,Collage, Sirens Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2000
Nicole Strafaci New Work - Paintings and Drawings, Harold and Maude's, Orlando, FL
1999
Selected New Work - Nicole Strafaci, Sapphire Supper Club, Orlando FL
1998
Brujodada and the Millennium present Letters to Myself, The Mill, Winter Park, FL
1997
Letters to Myself , The Fringe Gallery, Newark, NJ
Revolution, Harold and Maude's , Orlando, FL
1995
8/2/70, The Watchung Arts Center , Watchung, NJ
Group Exhibitions
2020
The Frenchtown Art Tour, The Mix Frenchtown, Frenchtown, NJ
Makers Alley First Annual Art Exhibition, Frenchtown, NJ
Memento Mori, The Art Parlour, Frenchtown, NJ
The Art of the River Town Juried Art Exhibition, Prallsville Mills, Stockton, NJ
The Art of the Self-Portrait, The Art Parlour, Frenchtown, NJ
Art of the River Towns Juried Online Sales Gallery - Presented by Rivertowns Magazine - Rivertownsmagazine.com, Stockton, NJ
Holding On - Presented by New Hope Arts Center - Curated by Ivia Sky Yavelow - Newhopearts.org, New Hope, PA
The Center for Contemporary Art Members Juried Exhibition, The Watchung Arts Center, Watchung, NJ
Klaus Schnitzer - Fifty years of Inspiration and Impact - The Photographic Legacy of Klaus Schnitzer and his Students, George Segal Gallery, Montclair State University, Montclair , NJ
2019
FOUR - Galeria Vida in collaboration with Art Share LA, Downtown Los Angeles Arts District, Los Angeles, CA
M POP SHOP, M Galleries, Washington, NJ
Witch Project, RESSARTS Projects, Frenchtown, NJ
Red White and Blue, RESSARTS Projects, Frenchtown, NJ
The Center for Contemporary Art Members Exhibition and Sale, The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster, NJ
Trout, RESSARTS Projects, Frenchtown, NJ
The Hunterdon Art Tour Kickoff Celebration Exhibition, Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton, NJ
Cinco de Madre Mother-Love Art Market - a Hunterdon Art Tour Group venue, RESSARTS Projects, Frenchtown, NJ
Archetypes , RESSARTS Projects, Frenchtown, NJ "
The Center for Contemporary Art Members Juried Exhibition, The Bernardsville Library, Bernardsville, NJ
2018
Un- REALS the work of Nicole Strafaci and Enriqe Landgrave, I'm Hungry Truck and Depot, Hellertown, PA
2017
NACRE- the work of Nicole Strafaci and Jessica Echeverria , I'm Hungry Truck and Depot, Hellertown, PA
2015
DOLLMINATION, Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2012
L.A. Collective and Open Gate Theatre Present Moose Heard Activities, Glendale Moose Lodge, Glendale, CA
2011
When Dolls Attack - an All Doll Art Show, Rosemary's Billygoat, Los Angeles, CA
2010
Jill of all Trades Art Boutique Show, Presidio Motel, Santa Barbara, CA
Patchwork Art Show and Exhibit, The Road Less Traveled Store, Santa Ana, CA
2009
Jill of all Trades Art Boutique Show, Presidio Motel, Santa Barbara, CA
Patchwork Art Show and Exhibit, The Road Less Traveled Store, Santa Ana, CA
2008
Jill of all Trades Art Boutique Show, Presidio Motel, Santa Barbara, CA
Patchwork Art Show and Exhibit, The Road Less Traveled Store, Santa Ana, CA
2007
Felt Club Art Exhibit , Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA
Jill of all Trades Art Boutique Show, Presidio Motel, Santa Barbara, CA
Patchwork Art Show and Exhibit, The Road Less Traveled Store, Santa Ana, CA
2006
DOLLS, DOLLS, DOLLS - Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Patchwork Art Show and Exhibit, The Road Less Traveled Store, Santa Ana, CA
Felt Club Art Exhibit, The Echo, Echo Park, CA
Felt Club Holiday Show, Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA
2001
1st Anniversary of GAS Gallery Group Show, GAS Gallery, Los Angeles,CA
2000
Chiaroscuro, The Art of Black and White, Boyd Scott Gallery, Orlando, FL
Alpha Contempo - Definition,Destiny and Desire 1st Thursday', Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando FL
Spontaneous Interplay, Boyd Scott Gallery, Orlando, FL
1999
Homegrown Mojo curated by Jonathan Le Vine, CBGB's 313 Gallery, New York, NY
Dragonfly Gallery annual selected Group Exhibition, Dragonfly Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA
1998
The Very Hairy Show, Max Fish, New York, NY
Toe Five, Pedestrian Gallery, Jacksonville, FL
The Artful Toy Artists Unlimited, Tampa, FL
Women Artist's Selected Group Show, Gift and Goddess, Panama City, Florida
1997
Halloween, Pedestrian Gallery, Jacksonville, FL
Contemporary Color, Living Quarters, Orlando, FL
Art of the Nude, The Artistry, Orlando, FL
1996
Collaborative Painting , The Blue Room, Orlando, FL
Illumination, Sapphire Supper Club, Orlando, FL
Montclair in Manhattan III, Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY
1995
SACI 20th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Gathering Whim, ARK- Artists Reaching Out to Kids, Long Beach, CA
20th Annual New Members Exhibition, City Without Walls Gallery, Newark, NJ
Local Artsits, Lucca's Cafe, Westfield, NJ
New Work Corner, City Without Walls Gallery , Newark, NJ
1994
National Exhibition of Small Works, Montclair State University Art Gallery, Upper Montclair, NJ
Montclair in Manhattan II, Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY
BFA Exhibition, Montclair State University Art Gallery, Upper Montclair, NJ
1992
Montclair in Manhattan, Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY
Print Publications
2019
The Hand Magazine Issue 24 - April 2019
Kolaj Magazine Artist Directory
Solo Performances
2014
RAW, Hollywood, CA
Dressing is Art, Ocean Grove Women's Club, Ocean Grove, NJ
2013
We are Dreamers, Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA
Featured Spoken Word Artist, Hollywood Institute of Poetics, Canoga Park, CA
I Hate my Bed, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
2012
I am a Poet, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
1993
To My Dearest Friend - Installation and Performance , Oudestraat 17, Kampen, Holland
Education
2016-2017
Advanced Hypnosis Master Practitioner Training, The NLP Center of New York, New York, NY
Eriksonian Hypnosis Level 1 Practitioner Training, The NLP Center of New York, New York, NY
2014
Reiki 1 Training, The Reiki Institute of America, Ocean Grove, NJ
2012-2014
Solo Show Master Class with Terrie Silverman, Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA
Free Your Story Fantastic - Solo Performance Class with Deana Barone, Hollywood, CA
Write your Life for the Page and the Stage with Ann Randolph, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
2012
The MAX: Expanding the Limits of Your Self with Paula Shaw, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
Improv Inspiration:Wit and Wisdom in an Instant with Paula Shaw, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
2010
The Natural Singer:Find your True Voice with Claude Stein, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
1994
BFA in Photography Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Art of the Book - printmaking and book making, The Center for Book Arts, New York, NY
1993
Study Abroad: Constantijn Huygens Academy of Art, Kampen,Holland
Private Art Critique with photographer Duane Michals, New York, NY
1991
Study Abroad: SACI - Studio Arts Center International, Florence, Italy
1988-1989
Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, Philadelphia, PA - fashion design and history
1986-1988
Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY - fashion design