Elisabeth Nickles is a mixed media sculptor living in Philadelphia. She has produced bodies of work in bronze, glass and paper. She attended the Boston Museum School and The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and in 2007 received an MFA from Alfred University. Her work has recently been shown at the Philadelphia Airport, Schmidt Dean Gallery and Exit Art. Her recent large scale commissions include pieces for the SEPTA Arts in Transit program as well as a large wall sculpture for the offices of The Reinvestment Fund in Philadelphia.
Elisabeth can be reached via email: elisabethnickles@gmail.com
EDUCATION
NYSCC at Alfred University, Alfred, NY 2007
Master of Fine Arts, Sculpture
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA 1999
Certificate of Fine Arts, Sculpture
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA 1991
Diploma of Fine Arts, Painting
EXHIBITIONS Solo and two-person
2014 Cultigens: Exhibition as Artist in Residence at Winterthur. Chris White Gallery, DE
2013 Imperfect Gallery, Philadelphia, PA-Underwater
2012 Esther Klein Science Center, University City, PA Biophelia
2010–2011 Philadelphia International Airport – Art and Exhibitions Program. Ocean Within
2007 Fosdick Nelson Gallery at Alfred University, Alfred, NY. MFA Thesis Exhibition: Esophoria
2004 Schmidt/Dean Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. Recent Glass Sculpture
2004 University of the Arts Sculpture Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. Down in the Hollow
2003 Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA. Accumulations
2002 Schmidt/Dean Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. Anteverta/Postverta
2000 Artist's House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. Recent Sculpture
1999 Artist’s House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. Recent Paintings and Sculpture: Greek Travels
1992 Finkelstein Memorial Library, Nanuet, NY. Paintings and Sculpture
1991 Bag Gallery, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Paintings and Drawings
Selected Group
2014 Traveling Exhibition: Art & Science Collaborations. Aldo Leopold Foundation/Colorado Art Ranch
2014 Fiber Biennial – Snyderman Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Flying Kite. Philadelphia PA, Transformation Exhibit
2013 Art in City Hall, Philadelphia, PA, Library of Life
2011 Urban Outfitters Headquarters, Philadelphia, PA, Group Exhibit
2010 Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, Philadelphia, PA- Creative Correspondance
2009–2010 Art in City Hall, Philadelphia, PA – In Your Dreams and Paperworks!
2009 Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE – The Landscape Within Her
2009 The Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA – Self As Animal
2007 Florence Lynch Gallery, New York, NY – Alfred on 25th
2006 Exit Art, New York, NY – City Lights: NEON ART
2006 Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE – Oink, Moo, Baa: Animals in Art
2005 Schmidt Dean Gallery, Philadelphia, PA – Group Exhibition
2005 Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA – Group Exhibition
2004 11th Annual International SOFA EXPO, Chicago, IL – Represented by the Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA
2004 Priceless Works Gallery, Seattle, WA – Cast Glass Sculpture by Pilchuck’s 2003 Emerging Artist in Residence
Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA – Dear Fleisher – benefit to raise money for the free-tuition program
2004 Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, WA – 26th Annual Auction
Yellow Bird Gallery, Newburgh, NY – Group Exhibit
2004 Long Beach Island Foundation, NJ – Group Exhibit
2004 Washington Square, Washington, DC – Philadelphia Sculptors
Collaborative Concepts, Beacon, NY – 100 x 100, Benefit Show
Muse Gallery, Philadelphia, PA – Monumental Micros, Philadelphia Sculptors
2003 Gallery 402, NYC, NY, Townson Commons Gallery, Townson, MD – Remembering 9/11
2002 Schmidt Dean Gallery, Philadelphia, PA – Group Exhibition
2002 The Howland Cultural Center, Beacon, NY – Group Exhibition
2002 Schmidt/Dean, Philadelphia, PA – Hooters and Peckers – Birds in Art
2001 Marsha Child Contemporary Fine Art, Princeton, NJ – Portrait Exhibition
2001 Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA – 61st Annual Exhibition
2001 Schmidt/Dean Gallery, Philadelphia, PA – Plant Life – Group Exhibition
2000 Marsha Child Contemporary Fine Art, Princeton, NJ – Group Exhibition
2000 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA – Annual Exhibition
1999 Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA – The Bird Show 99, Space 1026, "Lay of the Land"
1998 F.A.N. Gallery, Philadelphia, PA – Group Exhibition
1998 Mercer Community College, Trenton, NJ – Figuration Reconsidered
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2010 – Present
Villanova University Radnor, PA
Adjunct Professor, Drawing and Painting
2010 – 2011
Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Adjunct Faculty, 3D Foundations
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Art Futures Program, Artist in Residence Neumann/ Gioretti High School.
Mural Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Workshop Artist for the Porchlight Initiative at Project Home
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Instructor, Painting and Sculpture
Oasis Arts & Education, Philadelphia, PA
Sculpture/mixed media instructor
2009
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Lancaster, PA
Adjunct 3-D Faculty, Sculpture
Delaware Center for Contemporary Art
Community Artist in Residence with Big Sisters of DE: The Landscape within Her
Created workshop, exhibition and video to foster self-esteem in pre-teen girls.
Oasis Arts & Education, Philadelphia, PA
Self as Animal – Sculpture Project as Artist in Residence
2008
Wellsville Creative Arts Center, Wellsville, NY
Sculpture and Drawing Instructor, Special Community Classes
Designed workshop for the visually impaired,
Boces Sculpture instructor for HS students, Art and Literature Workshop
2006 – 2007
Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Liberal Arts Drawing Instructor, Teachers Assistant to Ron Lambert, Sophomore Mixed Media/ Paper Sculpture Judy Strahota,
Sophomore Wood; Glenn Zwegherdt, Foundry and Stone
2004 – 2005
Tyler School of Art, Cheltenham, PA
Summer Faculty, Foundry Instructor
Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Adjunct 3-D Faculty. Figure Sculpture and Thesis advisor
2003 – 2004
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Adjunct Faculty, Sculpture, Continuing Education
2000 – 2005
Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA – Adjunct Faculty, Sculpture and Drawing in Free Tuition Program
University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA – Visiting Artist and Lecturer in Sculpture
Main Line Arts, Philadelphia, PA – Beginning Sculpture Instructor
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts – Foundry Assistant for Gary Weisman
RESIDENCIES, FELLOWSHIPS and SCHOLARSHIPS
2013 – 2014 Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library Artist in Residence/ Exhibition. Wilmington, DE
2013 – 2014 New Courtland Artist Fellowship. Community based art making and exhibit with Philadelphia seniors and teens.
2013 Aldo & Leopold Artist in Residence at Monomoy Wilderness – A Wilderness & Science Art Collaboration through Colorado Art Ranch
2012 MuraLAB and Breadboard Artist in Resident at NextFab , Philadelphia, PA
2011 Women’s Studio–Workshop Possibilities in Sculptural Papermaking, scholarship for class
2009 Delaware Center for Contemporary Art – The Art and Community Visual Arts Residency Program
2009 Oasis Arts & Education – Artist in Residence – Self as Animal – Sculpture Project
2004 Vermont Carving and Sculpture Center
2003 Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, WA – Emerging Artist in Residence
2003 Vermont Studio Center – Sculpture Fellowship
1992 Millay Colony for the Arts, Austerlitz, NY – Residency
PUBLIC and PRIVATE COMMISSIONS
2012 Blue River. Finalist for Columbia Avenue Connector Project for the Delaware River Corp, Philadelphia, PA
2011 Rhizomatic Plateaus. Commission for The Reinvestment Fund at 1700 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
2011 Cobbs Creek Constellation. SEPTA Arts in Transit: Public Art for 63rd Street and Market, Philadelphia,
2009 Cat’s Cradle: Outdoor bronze commission for Dr. Jan Gordon, Gladwyne, PA
2008 Bird Trees: Model Making and Design for Floss Barber Fine Art and Client, Philadelphia, PA
2007 Donkey Totem: Outdoor commission for Dr. Richard Tobey, Philadelphia, PA
2004 Bridge Crossing: Finalist for the Girard Crossing Public Art Competition, Philadelphia, PA
2002 Bird Tree: Collaboration with Ruby Westcoat. 40' steel tree with bronze birds ranging from 1' to 3'. Commission for the atrium at 935 1st Avenue, King of Prussia, PA. Certified Green Building.
AWARDS
2011
Leeway Foundation – Art and Change Grant, awarded for Art in the Garden project with local children
2009
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, National Endowment for The Arts, JP Morgan Chase Foundation – Artist & Communities grant and funding for Residency at Delaware Center for Contemporary Art
2005 – 2007
Alfred University
· Full Fellowship and Graduate Assistantship
2000
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
· Pennsylvania Governor's Award
1998
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
· The J. Henry Schiedt Memorial Travel Scholarship for Independent Study in Europe
· The Thouran Prize for Scupture
· The Stimson Prize for Sculpture
· The Cecilia Beaux Memorial Prize for Painting
· The Benjamin Lanard Memorial Award for Painting
· The Melvin Paul and Pearl Miller Carpel Award for Drawing
· Perez and Mary Epstein Prize for Sculpture
· The Arthur DeCosta Prize for Painting
· The Violette De Mazia Memorial Scholarship
MEDIA EXPOSURE
Art, Science and the City March 18, 2013
Library of Life March 11, 2013
Chestnut Hill Local November 2, 2012
Without Walls: Works from the muraLAB/Breadboard Residency April 27, 2012
Finding Found Art in Airports February 7, 2011
Fallon, Roberta “Chicken of the Sea and Other Delicious Public Art Treats,” The Artblog- online magazine, April 20, 2011
Fallon, Roberta “Sea and Be Seen at Philadelphia International Airport,” Philadelphia Weekly, April 20, 2011
Lu, Adrienne. “A program gets children and parents making art together,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 21, 2011
Donohoe, Victoria “Sculpture honors children and a doctor” The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 21, 2009
Wright, Reggie “Delaware Tonight,” interview about project and residency at DCCA. Aired on WHYY, July 2, 2009
Kelly, Paula. “The Landscape Within,” published in The News Journal, July 9, 2009
Kipp, Rachel “Creative Staying Power,” Sunday News Journal, April 5, 2009
Rosof, Libby “Materials,” Artblog online magazine, June 5, 2004
Fallon, Roberta “City of Glass,” Philadelphia Weekly. February 11. 2004
Fallon, Roberta “Glass Menagerie,” Artblog online magazine, February 12, 2004
Smetzer, Dave “Emerging Artists in Residence from Pilchuck,” Glass Talk Radio, January 20, 2004.
Green, Cathy “Tree of Birds,” Preview Magazine, Summer 2003