ABOUT THE ARTIST
Judy Nilsen sees forms and concepts in the beauty of ordinary found objects. Everyday objects experience a new life as Nilsen transforms them into visual ideas, often based on quotations, resulting in witty, humorous and profound concepts. Her intuitive ability to rearrange the often colorful, disparate pieces together, results in a quirky surprise that has both wit and wisdom. As critic Josef Woodard wrote of her work “a wistful sweetness rises up, almost immediately, from her assemblage.”
EDUCATION
California State University, Dominguez Hills, M.A. American Folk Art, 1976
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010 A FEW GOOD COOKS, CASA, Santa Barbara, California2009 New Works Il Fustino Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2009 Fresco Five Points, Santa Barbara, California
2009 Objects of the Heart The Book Den, Santa Barbara, California
2007 Visual Wisdom The Book Den, Santa Barbara, California
2007 Spring Art From Scrap Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2013 CHOCOLATE, Santa Barbara Tennis Club,Santa Barbara, California2012 MULCH Art From Scrap, Santa Barbara, California
2012 BULL Santa Barbara Tennis Club, Santa Barbara, California
2012 I AM IN LOVE, Michael Kate Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2012 NEST Indigo Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2011, 2012, 2013 ONE NIGHT STAND, Brooks Gallery 27, Santa Barbara, California
2011 COCK-A-DOOLE-DOO!, Santa Barbara Tennis Club Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2011 WESTMONT INVITATIONAL 5 x 5, Riddley-Tree Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2010 The Art of Play Art From Scrap Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2010 Femininity Montecito Frame & Gallery, Summerland, California
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 heart to heART Porch Vault Gallery, Carpinteria, California
2008 Assemblage of Four Art From Scrap, Santa Barbara, California
2008, 2009 Buddha Abides Frameworks Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2008 Three Art From Scrap Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2000 – 2010 Annual Benefit Show What Will They Create? Art From Scrap Gallery
Cup cake Queen
EXHIBITION REVIEWS/ARTICLES
Smith, Erin J., “A Few Good Cooks” CASA Magazine, (October 15, 2010), p.21, illus.Smith, Erin J., “With a Wink and a Nod” CASA Magazine, (August 7, 2009), p.20, illus.
Woodard, Josef, “Seek and find art” Art Scene/Santa Barbara NewsPress, (July 17, 2009), p.8, illus.
Smith, Erin J., “Celebrate Love and History” CASA Magazine, ( January 20, 2009), p.11.
Woodard, Josef, “Bringing it together, while pulling it apart” Art Scene/Santa Barbara NewsPress, (November 28,
2008), P.11, illus.
Bleecher, Darian, “Visual Wisdom” The Independent, (November 1, 2007), p.63.Smith, Erin J., “Spring is in the Air” CASA Magazine, (June 15, 2007), p.58, illus.
SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Margaret Casey, Santa Barbara, CaliforniaJudy and Dick Cousineau, Santa Barbara, California
Phyllis de Picciotto, Montecito, California
Jack Hewitt and Janice Meaden, Santa Barbara, California
Angela Holroyd, Montecito, California
Betsy and David Kain, Santa Barbara, California
Laura and James Kirkley, Santa Barbara, California
Marcy Kjoller, Santa Barbara, California
Ellen and Bob Lilley, Santa Barbara, California
Ellen and Douglas Patton, Sherman Oaks, California
Phyllis and Joseph Siegal, Thousand Oaks, California
Diana York, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Sherry and Donald York, South Padre Island, TX