THE STUDIO OF NICOLE MERKENS

  I call my latest body of work, “Star People, the Sky as Witness”. (Consider this as an intergallatic introduction of sorts). The sky has always played a powerful constant in my life and she is always watching as the universe whispers it's desires. I was born on an airbase during Pisces Rising, an Aries Sun and a Scorpio Moon. I come from a family of stargazers with an alien abductee mother, who is called “Starseed" by every psychic she meets and a sailor father who consults the stars with the tide as his first mate. He drove us to Cape Canaveral when I was 11 to see the Challenger lift off. We camped in the backyard for my sweet 16 to party with Halleys Comet. My Art school Final critiques took place during an eclipse and my teachers said they wouldn't expect anything less. My sister and I observed our small existence in the Grand Canyon as we star-bathed under the glorious milk way.  My children and I get up in the middle of the night and stand in the driveway to “ooh a

 On March 13, 2020; I was standing in  gallery full of my artwork that I had spent a year to make with no audience. The world stood still on that day. It was my opening night, as I placed a note on the gallery door saying, "Show Cancelled". In the months to come we retreated into our homes and had to learn "to pivot". I took up gardening, made the sourdough breads, cleaned out closets and tried to keep myself and family busy to escape the reach of depression that accompanied Covid. We journaled, we zoom'd, and we watched every movie and television show available to bide our time. In the following 18  months: two of my galleries I show in went under and nothing was selling in the brick and mortar shops if they didn't have an online presence. I tried to buy a handmade ceramic mug from fellow artists I admired every month to help support my hurting art community. I found pleasure drinking my gallons of coffee and tea ( yes, I took up drinking Ginger tea in the

I am pleased to announce I am In "The Potter's Hands" Exhibition up at Alpharetta Arts Center. The reception is this Saturday from 4:30-6:30pm. Come say hi and see wonderful art.  Peace- Nic  February 8 – April 8, 2022,  The Potter's Hands Gallery Exhibit    Opening February 19, 2022 4:30-6:30pm   Alpharetta Arts Center Gallery 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 Open during Arts Center business hours

Thank you to everyone who came out to my show Friday Night ! Xxoo

  I am thrilled to say I was accepted into "The Potter's Hands" In Alpharetta. If you are in town for the reception stop by and say, "Hello" Show details: February 8 – April 8, 2022 The Potter’s Hands Gallery Exhibit  Reception February 19, 2022 4:30-6:30pm Alpharetta Arts Center Gallery 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 Open during Arts Center business hours

  Save the Date!!! Feb 11, 2022 from 6-8pm. We are having an opening at the Gallery Space we ( The Atlanta Street Art Collective) show in, complete with music by DJ Steel. It will be in the Roswell Depot Shopping Center next door to our studio space.  408 S. Atlanta Street Roswell, Ga 30075. I am very excited for this show.  Drinks and desserts will be served and it is fun outing to include in your Valentine's weekend plans. So bring your honey and come party with us in the name of Love and Art.  https://www.instagram.com/atlantastreetartcollective/ 

  Happy New Year! I hope the holidays treated you well and you were able to celebrate. Even though my whole house has been vaccinated and boosted my husband who travels to New York quite often came down with Covid after a trip right before Christmas. We were forced to "Pivot" like the rest of us have been doing for two years now and he had to quarantine. So our plans to travel drastically changed and he lived in "My Haunted Basement" for almost 2 weeks. It was a bummer and I am just getting over yet another disappointment from this horrible epidemic.  I decided to branch out and bring some artwork to a really cool little neighborhood in Alabama called "Homewood". If you haven't been, its very artsy, with a very cool metaphysical shop  called Ritual+Shelter and home to the most delicious cookies I have ever had;  "Cookie Fix" .  Ritual+Shelter is an amazing store and really vibes with my work. They posted a photo of my work to their Instagra