About the Artist
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Olga Walusimbi Nichols is a graduate of the University of Minnesota who majored in Architecture and Studio Art, with continued education from the Art Institutes International in interior design. Prior to graduation, she received the Eliza A. Painting Award of the Year from Hamline University. She was also an associate member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Assembly of Architects (AOA). From 2014 to 2015, she served as a board member on the American Chamber of Commerce, Uganda. She has also acquired further professional experience designing spaces of and running operations in an architectural design firm, restaurant, dance studio, property management company, television production studio, and at an auto dealership. With her architectural background, she designed and remodeled the first state-of-the-art dance studio space in Kampala, Uganda, in 2013. After a series of life altering events in 2016, Olga finally returned to her first love –Visual art.
“Like a child with their comfort 'blankie,' I picked up my brush, sharpened my pencil, found what was left of the evaporating ink, and ascended into my atelier. The rest is history.” —Olga W. Nichols
To date, Olga continues to exhibit her Art work in Art shows around the country. She was selected to be the artist in residence at The Cultural Centre in Bird Island for the month of November 2017 before she was hired for the position as Administrator and Artist/ Instructor. Olga has also participated in RAW Art exhibitions in the summer – her last one being RAW downtown LA in June of 2018. Olga was also Artist and project manager for a community project with a grant by Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, to paint a mural on the West façade of the Bird Island Cultural Centre wall. She also collaborated in painting a 212 marker sign on the old train depot in Watson, MN. Furthermore, living in small town, Olga was a member of the Yellow Stone Trail committee that is looking to revitalize and celebrate the Arts, Cultural and Historical aspects of the corridor from Buffalo lake to Granite Falls. She also was one of 10 female Artists in leadership participating in a Rural Arts project called “Public Transformation” directed by one an Obama Fellow 2018 and Bush Fellow 2019 recipient. Olga’s community work included participating in the local area’s summer festivities organizing and judging Art competitions and Children’s parades. Olga also served as a Grant panelist on the Minnesota State Arts Board’s Partners in Art grant in December 2018. Olga was a delegate on the Blueprint Equity Network of Delegates (B.E.N.D.), “Thriving by Design” – A Rural & Urban Together project working towards the creation of the One Minnesota Equity Blueprint. This is a document and pathway for Minnesota to bridge divides and uplift policies that will help ALL Minnesotans thrive.
In April 2017, Olga was interviewed and featured on the Pioneer Public Television broadcast show, “Post cards,” which was a narrative of her journey as an Artist from Africa to Rural Minnesota. https://video.pioneer.org/video/olga-nichols-hyzeci/
Now on a new journey, Olga is a freelance Artist and Activist spending her time teaching workshops, creating and exhibiting her work in her studio/ gallery space in downtown St. Paul. Through her work, she vividly and avidly portrays her life experiences - both the delightful and the hardships. In addition, having lived among various global cultures throughout her life, Olga is enthused about sharing her lived experiences, skills and passions while bringing a variety of diverse communities together. Olga spends her time organizing community engagement events thus working collaboratively with individuals and groups of people with varying affiliations. In addition, Olga is currently serving on the CapitolRiver Council board as the Vice-chair person. Click to learn more about - CapitolRiver Council.
Olga has worked on various public Art including murals in advocation against systematic racism. Two of her murals are currently displayed on Kmart on Lake Street, Minneapolis. Through her creativity, Olga continues to highlight awareness of various causes such as breast cancer, Mental health and the unsheltered. Olga continues to interact with and advocate for the ever-growing unsheltered population in various communities. Subsequently, lending her listening skills and enterprising ingenuity to a diverse population by doing the action work to help rectify the numerous and complex issues that come with being unhoused.
Olga is eager to share her work with downtown dwellers, the corporates who frequent her studio as well as impact the world at large. Olga believes that painting as an Art form is a necessary advocacy and healing tool for communities everywhere.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Visualize. Conceptualize. Materialize.
Realism conceptualized (art mimicking nature.)
By manifestation, a design is birthed, and the genesis of a chef-d'oeuvre begins. Like ink on paper, there is not enough room for error, nor the option to erase. Such is life, in that art mimics life. The faux pas have come and gone, and there is no renaissance. However, through remorse, and in a contrite spirit, repentance begets change. Ink on board, smudge, spread, transgression, but no erasure. With the passing of time, bold, darker strokes overwhelm the once apprehensive stroke and smudge. For every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction. Translation, configuration, depiction.
Exploration, the dark contrast, and an inter-medium marriage is inaugurated. Peculiar, exotic forms engulf the surface which in and of themselves are reflective of the creator's eclectic disposition. These intrepid architectural design structures and concepts with organic forms mingle on the two-dimensional playground. Looming imperil, but no rues occur.
The creator, the storyteller, relentlessly embarks on the narrative, advertent [oblivious] to that which is outside the fable, but nonetheless reels in the viewer [insert word for museum visitor]. A challenge to divert from realism is eminent. Completion, satisfaction. In the end, is the goal achieved?
Genesis: The ink, graphite, charcoal, acrylic, oils, pastels, and all of the aforementioned, and it is finished. Simplistic in portrayal, but it is far from its domain. Monochromatic, colors, textures, mood, hues, depth, dimension, and photographic interpretation. Realism is imbedded in a myriad of various media. This is visual poetry on paper, board, and canvas.
