Every Tuesday afternoon we’re featuring the work of an artist in our community to support them in cultivating a new audience, to give voice to their oft-unknown studio practice, and to build a diverse roster which participants in the contemporary arts conversation might reference.
Mixed media, collage on wood panel, 6×6, 2011
Nicole Marie Mueller’s Bio
Nicole Mueller was born in Waukesha, WI, grew up in Alpharetta, GA, and now lives in Baltimore, MD. She graduated with a BFA in Painting and a Concentration in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art in December 2011. In addition to making paintings, collages, and experimental animations, she loves positivity, conversation, and traveling. She is also a co-founder of Blue Lined Designs, a mural painting team based in Baltimore, MD.
Nicole Mueller talking about her practice (filmed during her time in residence with Creative Paradox)
Artist Statement
“Through painting, collage, and stop-motion animation, I am investigating ideas of change and transformation, and pursuing a balance between chaos and control. Specifically in my recent works on paper and animated paintings, I’ve been exploring the idea of ‘movement’ within a piece, and repetition vs. uniqueness.”
A preview of works on paper:
Each piece starts with a stain, scribble, or drawing, sometimes inspired by outside places or observations, others arbitrarily made.
Mixed media collage on paper
6.5 x 5
2011
As these experiments continue to evolve in an attempt to bring incongrous marks and materials together in harmony, a visual vocabulary of shapes, squiggles, and colors emerges. These abstract universes are colorful and explosive, both cohesive and complex.
Acrylic, spray paint, house paint on canvas
72 x 52
Scale has become increasingly important to my work, along with the idea of sequence. Small, immediate collages lead into larger paintings, and sometimes even larger wall paintings or experimental animations. Each platform offers a new opportunity for playing with mark, material, and scale, and in translating a language into different formats.
What The Dog Saw, Mixed media, stop motion animation, 2011
More of Nicole’s work can be seen at her website. You can read about her practice at her studio blog.