Meet Nicole Maynard | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Maynard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Things that make me happy begin with people, as in that saying that happiness isn’t about “things.” Artmaking is essential beyond happiness to a fundamental way of being in the world. Time in the studio allows me to process my thoughts and feelings. It’s much like the benefits of sleep, with the addition of personal expression. I’m happiest when I’m in that state of flow, and absorption in my work. It’s peaceful to be free of distractions. Examples of such times are when I can give full attention to the person I’m with or spend time with my dog.

Let’s talk shop. Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I use color and paint to depict otherworldly places on the edge. Much of what is happening in the world can keep us up at night. At times the relationships between people, countries, and humans and the planet feel precarious. My art is a poetic expression of this rather than another headline. It gives form to how I imagine this might be in an alternate universe. Things may feel fine but are close to cataclysmic. Some of my paintings show beauty and optimism within the strangeness. Others lean more towards disaster as inevitable. The omnipresent view of these places is not that of an individual. Not quite dystopian, perhaps surreal, the images are unique abstractions of the state we’re in.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Miami. I began discovering it before moving here. If someone is visiting and wants to do everything art, I have a list for them. Museums: PAMM, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), the Bass and the Wolfsonian are only a start. The del la Cruz Collection. El Espacio 23, and the Rubell Museum are a must for contemporary art through the lens of particular collectors. Favorite galleries: Emerson Dorsch, Nina Johnson, Mindy Solomon, Fred Snitzer, Spinello Projects, and LnS Gallery. For graffiti and selfie backgrounds, head to Wynwood. For public art in a razzle-dazzle setting, go to the Design District. Don’t miss the Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome and hit the ICA while you’re there. Head to the Bakehouse Art Complex to where over 60 artists have studios (you can visit me in #42). None of these institutions would exist without the passion and drive of key people and philanthropists; they understand the importance of art to a community. Need a break? Get coffee at Panther or La Creme, bread, and pastries at Zak the Baker, a fancy dinner at Sugarcane, pizza at Harry’s, and beer and drinks at Veza Sur Brewery. Don’t forget the beach! There’s even art there! Check out the historic Art Deco buildings on Ocean Drive while you people watch.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Bakehouse Art Complex is instrumental in nurturing its community of Miami artists so that they, in turn, can inspire the greater community. I owe much of my artistic growth and feeling of connection to its leadership and to my artist colleagues.

Website: https://nicolemaynard.studio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicole_maynard.studio/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-maynard-159723126/