Past Exhibitions
Declaration
OPENING RECEPTION
Saturday, October 1, 2022
5:00 - 7:00 PM
ON VIEW
September 24 – October 20, 2022
LOCATION
Art Saint Louis
1223 Pine Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
This juried exhibit of St. Louis regional artists features work that clearly proclaims personal statements, declarations of political viewpoints, expressions of protest, social activism, celebration, or any other declarations and statements. I've contributed my painting "Red Woman," created in 2022.
21 Years | 21 Artists
OPENING RECEPTION
Thursday, August 18th, 2022
5:00 - 8:00 PM
ON VIEW
August 18 – October 7, 2022
LOCATION
The William & Florence Schmidt Art Center
2500 Carlyle Ave
Belleville, IL 62221
Celebrating The Schmidt's 21st Anniversary, this invitational includes the work of 21 artists connected to the gallery. Each participating artist has selected one piece from the collection to be shown alongside the their work. The decision was tough, but I selected a piece that had an interesting conversation with my painting "Rise." You'll have to come on by to see what I've paired with my piece!
What is Resilience?
ON VIEW
August 11 - October 15, 2022
ORGANIZED BY
What's Next For Earth
“In ecology, resilience is seen as the ability of a system to absorb disturbance and still retain its basic function and structure. In other words, a system that’s resilient can adapt to change without losing the qualities that define what it is and what it does—which together comprise that system’s “identity.” Resilience boils down to an ability to adapt to both short-term disruption and long-term change while retaining the system’s essential identity. Building resilience starts with decisions about what we value about a system. Concepts like the adaptive cycle and panarchy further aid our understanding of resilience in systems.”
– Richard Heinberg
Small Works Invitational
CLOSING RECEPTION
Friday, August 5th, 2022
5:00 - 8:00 pm
SHOW EXTENDED
June 24th - August 6th, 2022
LOCATION
Duane Reed Gallery
4729 McPherson Ave,
St. Louis, MO 63108
I am delighted & honored to have been invited to participate in Duane Reed Gallery's 2022 Small Works Invitational: a new exhibition inspired by the wealth of talent working in the St. Louis regional area. The show welcomes over 60 artists each interpreting one simple prompt: work fitting within a 14” x 14” square. Invited artists range from up-and-coming talent to well-established experts deep into their career. En masse, the group represents works in hundreds of public and private collections worldwide.
Among this stellar lineup of artists, you'll find the latest small works from my "Refuvescence" mixed media series. Watch my video to get an up close preview of work from this show.
Salon des Refusés
ON VIEW
April 1 - July 2, 2022
LOCATION
Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art (WMOCA)
309 McClellan Street
Wausau, WI 54403
Like the original French “Salon des Refusés” exhibition in 1863, this is a selection of works that have been at one point rejected. Back then, it was a rebellion by artists whose work was in some way considered unconventional by the Paris Salon, thus rejected from being shown.
Why was the Salon des Refusés So Important? WMCOA writes:
"Three reasons. (1) Because it undermined the infallibility of the French Academy and, by implication, Academic art across Europe. (2) Because it highlighted the need for alternative “unofficial” exhibitions, to prevent highly conservative academic bodies from dominating both aesthetics and public taste in art. (3) Because, to a great extent, it legitimized the newly emerging forms of avant-garde art, and paved the way for the even more shocking style of “Impressionism”, which its exponents unleashed on Paris in 1874, in a series of independently organized exhibitions (1874-84)."
My Final STL Open Studio
IN-PERSON
Saturday, May 14th, 2022
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
STUDIO LOCATION
2175 S Big Bend Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63117
This will likely be my last Open Studio event in St. Louis, MO. I plan to move soon and would love to share one last hurrah in my cozy Big Bend studio with you. Come see my latest "Refuvescence" series as well as my life-sized figurative oil paintings. Work is available for sale.
Not local? Reach out if you'd like to see any work up close.
Shifting Cultural Stories
ON VIEW
March 22 - May 22, 2022
ORGANIZED BY
What's Next For Earth
“Society’s goals and mindsets could be thought of as the stories we tell ourselves. Some cultural stories are deeply ingrained in us as a species, while some are the predominant narratives of the particular society into which we have been born. They help us make sense of the world around us, but they may also hinder our ability to foresee big social changes and to adjust our behavior accordingly. Therefore, some of these stories need to change: we may need to shift from the consumer economy to a conserver economy; from valuing things to valuing relationships and experiences; from inevitable growth to a steady-state economy; from a politics of mass persuasion to a politics of local engagement.”
– Richard Heinberg
Holiday Postcards Exhibition
ON VIEW
November 11 - December 31, 2021
DIGITAL EXHIBITION ON ARTSY
33 Contemporary Art Gallery
Two holiday "Pocket Portraits" are now available on Artsy!
Gobble up these two small postcard-sized 6 x 4 inch paintings for $100 each (plus shipping) as a part of this holiday exhibition.
Footprint
ON VIEW
September 25 - October 21, 2021
LOCATED DOWNTOWN
Art St. Louis
1223 Pine Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
"Footprint" features artworks that address the marks, impressions that we leave—physically, emotionally—on the planet, in society, our footprint as we walk through our lives; also can apply to the marks left on the surface of an artwork.
A departure from my typical paintings, my Coral Bleaching Mask is an assemblage. Corals under stress expel their colorful algae symbiotic partners, revealing the bone-white coral skeleton beneath. Here, upcycled plastics become coral-like forms protruding from a netted, primarily white and red monster. Through the eyes, a classic View Master toy displays pristine seascapes to the viewer. This mask challenges persistent childhood fantasy with the stark reality of our polluted, rapidly-warming oceans. Come see it in person.
Open Studio Print Launch!
Saturday, July 24th, 2021
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
LOCATED IN MY MAPLEWOOD, MO, STUDIO
Second Floor
2175 S Big Bend Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63117
To kickoff the launch of my first ever limited-edition giclée prints, I'm opening my studio for the day. Choose from 3 different prints: Breathe Forward, Open Ears, or Mesozoic Sky. (Breathe Forward is pictured here).
PRE-ORDERS BEGIN NOW on my brand new SHOP.
If you're local, pick up your order that day. I'll have a limited number of available prints on hand, so I recommend placing your order in advance. If you prefer shipping, I'll begin packing and shipping shortly after the event. Contact me if you have any questions.
You'll also get to see what I'm working on in my studio, as well as new fine art jewelry by my studio mate Allison Norfleet Bruenger. RSVP for event on Facebook.
Living Resonance: Paintings by Nicole Cooper
OPENS DURING GRAND CENTER FIRST FRIDAY
Friday, May 7th, 2021
5:00 - 8:00 PM
On View May 7 - May 29, 2021
LOCATED IN ST. LOUIS’ GRAND CENTER ARTS DISTRICT
Angad Arts Hotel
First Floor Gallery
3550 Samuel Shepard Dr
Saint Louis, MO 63103
Vibrant color unites this solo exhibition with the Angad Arts Hotel theme. “Living Resonance: Paintings by Nicole Cooper” is a lively collection of my life-sized figurative oil paintings that use vivid colors, expressive brushwork, and the human form to explore humanity as a living, growing force.
I’m exicted to announce that my work has been accepted for a pop-up solo exhibition at the Angad Arts Hotel in the heart of St. Louis’s Grand Center Arts District though the month of May. It is an honor to show in the first floor gallery of this eclectic hotel that offers a unique, artistic experience to visitors while supporting local artists through exhibition opportunities. Since they opened in 2018, I’ve been intrigued by their “choose your room by emotion” theme that encourages visitors to select whether to stay in a room of powerful red, freedom blue, curiosity yellow, or rejuvination green.
Pivotal: New Paintings by Nicole Cooper
Opening: Friday, January 22, 2021 at 6:00 pm (Tickets Sold Out!)
On view: January 22 - March 5, 2021
Artist Talk via Facebook LIVE on March 2, 2021 at 7:00 PM CST
RSVP on Facebook >
Fontbonne University Fine Art Gallery
6800 Wydown Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63105
Hours:
Mon - Thurs 9am - 4pm
Fri 9am - 6pm
Sat Noon – 4pm
Nicole Cooper's exhibition entitled Pivotal, of new life-sized figurative oil paintings, explores humanity as a living, evolving force. Humanity is going through a pivotal time. There are profound changes and developments that can affect humanity, either positively or adversely. Cooper's paintings are vivid manifestations of the feelings and life force inside our flesh and blood body. This is Cooper's third solo exhibition and features nearly a dozen paintings.
Tickets to the opening reception are sold out. The gallery provided a limited number of free tickets help to keep the gallery at a safe capacity.
The exhibition has been extended through March 5th! Visit during regular gallery hours (no tickets required) or book a visit with the artist below.
Punk Rock Art Show
Extended through February 2021
By Saturday appointment only
31Art Gallery
3520 Hampton Ave
St. Louis, MO 63139
I'm happy to be included among lucky 13 artists at 31ArtGallery for the Punk Rock Art Show (not to be confused with the last exhibition Rock the Art Show). Schedule an appointment with the gallery to see the large and small ink washes I've included.
Jared Minnick: @jared.minnick.art
Andy Dykeman: @andykemanart
Kerry Smith: @kerrysmith_art
Terry Hinkle: @hinklecreative
Maxine Thirteen: @maxine_thirteen
Erik Thompson: @greymarketstandard
Jen Dykeman: @jenx_art
Henryk Ptasiewicz: @henrykptasiewicz
Stan Brock: @stan_brock
Josh Svoboda: @joshsvobodaart
Renee Raub: @renee_raub
Jason Spencer: @killernapkins
Ethereal Epiphany
ONLINE EXHIBITION
33 Contemporary Gallery on Artsy
On view through Dec 31, 2020
New painting “Warning Signs” is available on Artsy. Created out of thoughts bubbling up out of pandemic, climate emergency, and social unrest, “Warning Signs” explores real feelings of our current time. Click below to purchase the work or see the whole show.