The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (FAC) will host an exhibition of the work of pop artist Nicole Heere in the Bassett Gallery beginning Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. “Women...The Real Heroes” will open with a catered reception from 6 - 7:30 p.m. just prior to the opening night of Camden Community Theatre's of Steel Magnolias. The reception will be catered by Ashley’s of Old McCaskill’s Farm. The exhibition will run through March 3, 2017.
About the Artist
Nicole Heere is a Texas born painter inspired by Warhol, Lichtenstein, Shepard Fairey and Banksy. She paints dramatic portraits using techniques on the crossroad between pop and realism. Nicole implements the use of house paint and oil paint creating the balance between pop art mediums and traditional mediums. Yet where many modem masters have patriarchal subjects, Nicole falls back on her southern feminine roots and grounds her characters in traditional female roles. All this results in provocative and empowering paintings that challenge cultural identities and stereotypes.
Nicole obtained a BFA from University of Texas at San Antonio in 2006. While attending school she worked with several renowned artists such as Alex Rubio and Milica Tomic and received mentorship from Bruno Andrade, a Smithsonian Institution American artist. Throughout her studies, she also had to keep a job in real estate to afford her classes, and after graduation, she started to work full-time within real estate as she was told by family and friends that “art wouldn’t pay the bills.” It would take her years to realize that she gave up too easily and after she received gallery representation in Austin for a few paintings she created in her free time, she made the big step in 2011 to become a full-time artist.
Her success has continued with numerous exhibitions and press. In February 2016 Nicole's paintings were a trending topic on Instagram and in March 2016 she was a featured artist at Design Night Out Miami. Nicole’s art has also gained a following in Europe as it was featured in an advertising campaign by Laznia Nowa Theatre Poland. Her painting “Mommy's Little Helpers” was used on billboards and posters throughout the city of Krakow, Poland.
The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County is proud to have Nicole exhibit some of her work in the Bassett Gallery as she is under a new exclusive contract with The French Art Network Galleries in New Orleans, LA. Read more about Nicole Heere on her website at www.nicoleheere.com. (Images may contain adult subject matter.)
For more information call 803-425-7676 extension 300 or visit the FAC website at www.fineartscenter.org. The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County is at 810 Lyttleton Street in Camden. Box office hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The Fine Arts Center is funded in part by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding is provided by the City of Camden, Kershaw County, and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina along with donations from businesses and individuals.
