Nicole Malcolm – New Work

We are proud to showcase new work by local artist, Nicole Malcolm.  Her current paintings on display are dynamic and colorful expressions of Black female energy, bold and beautiful.  Her new work includes playful, provocative and socially relevant subject matter, as well.

You can find her online at:
Instagram  @MaddPainter1204
Twitter @MaddPainter1204
Facebook @MaddPainter

Nicole Malcolm – Artist’s Statement

My creative process varies. But when I feel the pressure to be creative, it primarily comes from the environment around me. Being exposed to racism, violence, drugs, gang activity, and mental illness, as part of that environment, has affected my way of observing life; leading me to see it from many different perspectives.  I consider both the light and dark aspects of a situation.

Specifically, with the painting, “This is America”, there was a need to express the mentality of those in power. Also, how very little has changed since the dawn of America’s system. The images used for the painting were not used to discriminate against anyone’s beliefs, but to show how a people used beliefs to enslave others.

I use art as a way of expressing my own internal feelings and those I’ve felt from the world around me. I didn’t consider art as therapy until I understood how it could be a tool of release. It wasn’t until I had created pieces with heavier themes, that I realized spectators might open to healing through viewing and discussing the images that appealed to them. Many times, my counseling training came in handy, as my themes would trigger discussion on these topics. In a way this allowed the viewer to obtain closure, a different mind set, or deliverance from past issues. Like music, art has the ability to shift the mood and spark the imagination.  This can be very essential for obtaining our own happiness.