Teeth Palm Trees
8″ x 10″
Oil on Panel

Briefly describe the work you do.

I make paintings and sculptures

Tell us about your background and how that has had an influence on your work and on you as an artist.

I’m from LA and that has in many ways made me who I am. Because I was born out that way in 83 I have seen all it has had to offer over the last 31 years. La has a color to it like a electric light blue and a toxic yellow, that’s how the place feels to me also, electric and toxic.

The concept of the artist studio has a broad range of meanings in contemporary practice. Artists may spend much of their time in the actual studio, or they may spend very little time in it. Tell us about your individual studio practice and how it differs from or is the same as traditional notions of “being in the studio.”

I have always thought this was stupid topic. “Studio” is just a word to help give an understanding of where an artist production takes place, like any word it can be played with and honestly the play is not all the interesting to me. In the loose sense of the word I am always in the studio.

Jungle boots escalator
Bronze and Legos

What roles do you find yourself playing that you may not have envisioned yourself in when you first started making art?

The only role I want and have ever envisioned is a person who makes art and I do that now.

When do you find is the best time to make art? Do you set aside a specific time everyday or do you have to work whenever time allows?
I’m always making something, I write and draw but mostly I like to paint and I do that when the moment takes me.

How has your work changed in the past five years? How is it the same?

My work is always changing. I think this is because I am always moving and doing new things, I hate the idea of stagnation.

16 x 20
Acrylic on Canvas

How have people such as family, friends, writers, philosophers, other artists or even pop icons had an impact on the work you do?

I think that the person I think about most is Jeremy Bentham or specifically his idea about the Panopticon. Maybe that makes me sound paranoid but that is something always on my mind.

Have you ever been pulled in the direction of a pursuit other than being an artist? What are your other interests?

This has happened a lot to me. After high school I couldn’t afford school or art supplies or food or anything. I joined the army, that little journey took me all the way to Iraq and back. Since then my focus has been art and I never looked back.

About

BFA, Art Center College of Design: 2013Artist Assistant, Sculpture Studies Bronze Foundry, Kristan Marvell: Dec. 2011 – May 2012Internship, The Compound Gallery & Studios: 2008 – 2009Art Center Saturday Program: 1998 – 2002Nevada School of the Arts: 1995. 2015: group show @ Untitled Project Space and group show @ Exchange LA.2014: group show @ Think Tank Gallery and solo show @ Sosm Project Space.2013: solo show @ ACCD 

niccoladevereaux.com

All images copyright of the artist and used with their permission.