Paul M. Nicholson
Paul uses an interdisciplinary approach that employs traditional drawing, painting and photographic
processes in the service of creating installation and public intervention projects. Themes in his work
vary from the explicitly political to the highly personal. His process however, has remained consistently
focused on exploring how the crafted object functions against the backdrop of shifting cultural, political
and economic landscapes. He is a maker at heart; be it objects, images, ideas or experiences.
He believes that many works are at the height of their power in a non-art context. In many of his works
there’s a conscious nod to theatricality. Since all art is theatre, paul is often in search of an appropriate
stage for his performative interventions.
Originally from Suva Fiji, Paul grew up in Western New York and earned his MFA from University at Buffalo,
his MS from Buffalo State College, and his
BFA from SUNY Fredonia .
Paul is a multidisciplinary artist and curator living and working in Allentown PA, where he is the
Director of Martin Art Gallery at Muhlenberg College. Previously, he worked at Parsons School of Design,
as Senior Advisor for the Fine Art, Photography, and Design & Technology MFA Programs in the School of
Art, Media & Technology. Paul Was also the founder/director of Botanic Gallery, in Brooklyn, Co-founder of
Bushwick Beer Garden, and a Co-Founder of Formula Gallery in Buffalo NY
EXHIBITIONS: AS CURATOR
2016
Natural Philosophy, Martin Art Gallery, Muhlenberg College, Allentown PA
the water between us remembers, Deborah Jack, Muhlenberg College, Allentown PA
2015
2015
The Unabridged Graphic Adaptation: Itunes terms and conditions by R.Skioryak, Baker
Center for the Arts Galleria, Muhlenberg College, Allentown PA
2013
The New Show [2013, co-curator with Antoinette Curl] 25 East Gallery New York NY
Parsons Alumni Exhibition 2013 Curatorial Committee Arnold and Sheila Aronson Gallery
2012
The Commons, Sarah Butler & Julie Tremblay, Botanic Gallery, Brooklyn NY
Popular Subculture, Mark Bouthilette & Daniel Derwelis, Botanic Gallery, Bkln NY
Parsons Alumni Exhibition, Arnold and Sheila Aronson Gallery, New York
The New Show 2012, [co-curator with Antoinette Curl] 25 East Gallery New York NY
Advisor Select Show, [co-curator with Jessica Walker] 25 East Gallery New York NY
2011
A Strange Sense of Calm, Botanic Gallery, Brooklyn NY
@ Dekalb, Botanic Gallery, Brooklyn NY
The New Show 2011, [co-curator with Antoinette Curl] 25 East Gallery New York NY
Advisor Select Show, [co-curator with Jessica Walker] 25 East Gallery New York NY
2010
The New Show 2010, [co-curator with Antoinette Curl] 25 East Gallery New York NY
2005 Glass House Refractions, co-curator Buffalo Botanical Gardens, Buffalo NY
EXHIBITIONS: organized as Director, Martin Art Gallery, Muhlenberg College
2016
Stone Koans: Roger Loos, Muhlenberg Campus public sculpture
Ghosts: French Holocaust Children, by Robert Hirschbr
Lucien Clergue & Ralph Gibson, Baker Center for the Arts Galleria
The Guardian, Joy Mckinney, Baker Center for the Arts Galleria
Contemporaries' Art, Selected works from the Hudson Center for Contemporary Arts Residency Program, Baker Center for the Arts Galleria
Whisper Party, JF Lynch, Baker Center for the Arts Galleria
2015
Things that might have happened: Selections from Transformational Imagemaking: Handmade Photography since 1960
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS: AS ARTIST
2016
Hues of Red and Blue: The 2016 Presidential Election, Allentown Museum of Art
2014
Offense and Dissent, Sheila Johnson Design Center, New York NY
2013
Nurture Art Benefit, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery New York NY
2011
Objects of Great Value, Botanic Gallery, Brooklyn NY (solo)
Bushwick Open Studios
2010
Consume this Art Show, New Phoenix Theater, Buffalo NY
The Animal as Signifier, Garage, San Diego CA
2009
Paul Nicholson [Homecoming,] Suva Museum, Suva Fiji (solo)
Stations, Community School of Music and the Arts, Ithaca NY & Wells College Gallery, Aurora NY
Paul Nicholson Wellsville Creative Arts Center, Wellsville NY (solo)
Small works show 440 gallery, Brooklyn NY
2008
Sarah Palin 3rd Ward Election Party, Brooklyn NY
Bushwick Beer Garden; 2008 – present. Co-Creator/Director, Brooklyn NY
Molecules of Emotion, Greenpoint Diagnostic Imaging, Brooklyn NY
Day Job, Parsons Department Fine Art Gallery, New York NY
2007
Beyond/In WNY Albright-Knox Biennial; Burchfield Penny Art Center, Buffalo NY
Vineyard Art Show, Vineyard, Syracuse NY; Honorable Mention
2006
Provflux 2006 Guest Lecture, Providence RI
Terramorph, One Hour Gallery, Buffalo NY
2005
Unhabit, Pittsburgh PA, curators: Eric Fleischauer & Tara Mendetta
The Reflected Pearl, Installation, CEPA Gallery Buffalo NY
2004
The Conservatory TNL gallery, Raleigh, NC
Currency Exchange Zavitz Gallery, Guelph University, Ontario, Canada
Copper Hill APSWNY/C. G. Jung Center Buffalo, NY (solo)
Sensitized Spaces 2.0 CEPA Gallery Buffalo, NY
Rough and Ready Soundlab, Buffalo, NY
2003
Visual Arts Board Exhibition, Upton Hall Gallery, Buffalo State College
Concrete Soapdish, Formula Gallery, Buffalo, NY
Shelf Life, Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo
2002
Obsessions and Compulsions", Squeaky Wheel, Buffalo, NY
1891 Fredonia Opera House, Fredonia, NY
SELECTED PUBLIC & PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Queens College, Queens NY
Burchfield Penny Art Center, Buffalo, New York
Suva Art Museum, Suva Fiji
Joel Daniels Esq. Buffalo, New York
Contact: P a u l M N i c h o l s o n [at] g m a i l . c o m
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