About the Artist
Nancy Nolet relocated to Baltimore to obtain her philosophy degree at UMBC. Alongside her multi-decade real estate career, she is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts at Towson University. For many years, Nancy explored various forms of artistic expression, but it was during a mixed-media workshop in her mid-twenties that she discovered her true artistic medium. Her work examines the interplay between raw materials and man-made industrial objects by constructing whimsical sculptures from salvaged materials. Drawing inspiration from the Surrealist and Steampunk movements, she aims to ignite curiosity through compelling representations of the world's mysterious, bizarre, and formidable creatures.
NancyNolet website Nancy Nolet Studio Arts
Artist's Statement
In my art, I create intricate three-dimensional mixed-media pieces that explore the relationship between raw materials and man-made industrial objects. Various methodologies are applied to construct unique and whimsical sculptures, installations, and assemblages from repurposed salvaged materials. My inspiration derives from a wide range of sources, including abstract and cubist sculptures, Surrealism, Gothic fiction, and the Steampunk movement. I am particularly intrigued by subjects some might find creepy or disturbing, such as masks, puppets, bats, insects, and body parts. As a visual storyteller, I aim to inspire others to appreciate the small details and intricacies in everyday life that I find captivating.
The vision for each piece begins with a single reclaimed item that sparks a clear direction for my work. Once I have my initial idea, I analyze a diverse array of resources to inform my work, thus ensuring an accurate representation of the creatures I create the flora and fauna with which they dwell. My research includes photographs of different life forms in their natural habitats, biological illustrations, scientific texts, and other artistic interpretations. My art is presented as a puzzle; it can be appreciated as a whole or examined closely to uncover the original purpose of the found parts. The intention is to evoke emotions and curiosity by presenting compelling representations of the mysterious, bizarre, and sometimes frightening beauty discoverable in the world around us.
