Project Description

Nellie King Solomon
Phoenix Art Gallery

Nellie King Solomon

Solomon approaches painting with equal parts irreverence and admiration. In lieu of canvas and brushes Solomon paints on the sharp industrial material of Mylar using custom wood and glass tools for pulling the paint in sweeping, gestural marks. Iconic abstract elements, bold colors, and unusual materials, like asphalt, swirl about, captivating the senses and revealing the tension between spontaneity and rigor at work in her practice. This year debuts her new technique mounting large Mylar works to inch and a half deep aluminum for a crisp architectonic finish.

Solomon takes a critical yet playful eye to painting. Trained as an architect, but never licensed, which might explain why she establishes rules, grids, or frameworks, only to challenge their very existence. At the heart of her unique artistic practice lies the confident ability to think and explore beyond the frame.
Solomon studied architecture at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City and holds a BA in Art from University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MFA from California College of the Arts, San Francisco. She has taught art at Stanford University and California College of the Arts, and worked as an artist assistant to David Ireland, as well as provided architectural restoration on the Palazzo St Polo in Venice. She lived in Paris, Venice, Barcelona, and New York City before returning to California.

Solomon currently has an extensive exhibition of her works up at SMoCA Scottsdale Museum of contemporary Art, through January 31th 2021. Solomon has had solo exhibitions at Brian Gross Fine Art, San Francisco, CA; Ochi Projects LA, Los Angeles, CA; Ochi Gallery, Sun Valley, ID; Melissa Morgan Fine Arts, Palm Desert, CA; and N’Namdi Contemporary in Chicago, Detroit, and Miami. Group exhibitions have featured her work at The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, CA; Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA; and Bolinas Museum, Bolinas, CA, among others. Solomon’s work has received extensive critical acclaim; featured in Art in America, Huffington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, Art Practical, Hyperallergic, Wallpaper, Harvard Review, ArtBlitzLA, Zyzzyva, NYTheatre, and Architectural Digest, among other publications. Her work is in the collections of SMoCA Scottsdale Museum of contemporary Art, BAMPFA Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Steve Wynn: Wynn Las Vegas & Wynn Macau, Blue Shield, Google, Visa, Yves Béhar, and Sabrina Buell. Solomon is currently living in Los Angeles with her daughter and bunny.

EDUCATION
2001
California College of the Arts, Masters of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
1995
University of California Santa Cruz, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Santa Cruz, CA
1995
Allan Chadwick Farm and Garden Program (Sustainable Agriculture), Santa Cruz, CA
1993
International Honors Program (Sustainable Development), Travel and Study
1992
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, School of Architecture, New York, NY
1990
The Urban School of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
1983
San Francisco Ballet School, CA
 
AWARDS, GRANTS, AND HONORS
2018
SECA SFMOMA award (nomination)
2016
SECA SFMOMA award (nomination)
2016
The Battery Residency, Feb-May, San Francisco, CA
2014
Alter Space Residency (in collaboration with Jennifer Muskopf)
2012
SECA SFMOMA award (nomination)
2010
SECA SFMOMA award (nomination)
2007
SECA SFMOMA award (nomination)
2005
SECA SFMOMA award (nomination)
2001
SECA/In Site SFMOMA award (nomination)
2000
Murphy Cadagon, San Francisco Foundation
1999
Sunspot Laboratory, Cal State LA Exhibition
 
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020
Breaking the Frame, curated by Jennifer McCabe, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art SMOCA, Scottsdale, AZ
2019
Draw the Line (in collaboration with Hamza Walker, Christopher Oliveira, Barbara Stauffacher Solomon), LAXART, Hollywood, CA
2019
ZENPOP, curated by Marialidia Marcotulli, AWD Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA
2019
ZENPOP satellite venues; San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, San Rafael City Hall, Bank of Marin, Proff Lab, San Rafael, CA
2019
Denim and Blue: Unintended Consequences, curated by Bettina Stiewe, Danielle, SF, CA
2018
Ode to the Road, Placewares, Sea Ranch, CA
2018
July Exhibition NKS, MMFA, Palm Springs, CA
2016
Catalogue Release – One Night Show, OchiProjectsLA, Los Angeles, CA
2015
Skyfuel, OchiProjectsLA, Los Angeles, CA
2015
Interior Onsite Lobby Entrance and show, Rocha Art, San Francisco, CA
2015
Exterior Onsite Three -Story Mural Project, on Brannan Street, Btwn 3rd & 4th Street, Ian
2015
Ross Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2015
Interior Onsite Lobby, Rocha Art, Rocha Art, San Francisco, CA
2014
Plate Tectonic, N’Namdi Contemporary, Miami, FL
2014
12 of Our 84 Possible Past Lives Collaboration with Jenny Muskof, Alter Space Gallery, Residency & Show, San Francisco, CA
2012
New Work: Drawings, Ochi Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
2011
Knock Out, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2010
Diamond Rings, Brian Gross Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2010
No More Mr. Nice Guy, Ochi Gallery, Ketchum, ID
2010
The Rings We Road in On, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2009
Recent Paintings, Shasta College, Redding, CA
2007
Folded Pours, Brian Gross Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2005
Super Ball, Brian Gross Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2005
New Work, Ochi Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
2005
Liquid Spaces, One Union, San Francisco, CA
2004
New Work, G.R. N’Namdi Gallery, Detroit, MI
2003
Organic, G.R. N’Namdi Gallery, Chicago, IL
2002
New Paintings, New Year’s Show, Ochi Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
2002
Blindsided, Julie Baker Fine Art, Grass Valley, CA
2001
New Paintings. New Talent, Ochi Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
2001
Introductions: Shooting Pool in Public, Braunstein/Quay Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2001
The Economics Series, Neo, San Francisco, CA
2000
Cars and Wilds, CCA Nave, San Francisco, CA
2000
Place Maker, CCA Graduate Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1999
Rock Scissors Paper, Canessa Gallery, 708 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA
1999
Game 1, Oakland, CA
1995
The Ultimate Triumph, UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA
 
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020
Drawing Connections, 18th St. Art Center, Santa Monica Airport, Los Angeles, CA
2020
Palm Springs Art Fair, MMFA Booth, Palm Springs, CA
2020
LA Art Show, MMFA Booth, LA Convention Center, LA, CA
2020
FAULTline, Bartolini Gallery Marin Civic Center, San Rafael CA
2019
SoEx Auction Exhibition, Southern Exposure, Minnesota St. Projects, San Francisco, CA
2019
Hardly Strictly Mini, Bolinas Museum, Bolinas CA
2018
Monster Drawing Rally, Southern Exposure, Minnesota St. Projects, San Francisco, CA
2018
Way Bay I, BAMPFA Berkeley Art Museum Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, CA
2017
POST/11/9 THE NEW NOW [NOW], Connect Gallery, Chicago, IL
2017
Auction Exhibition, Bolinas Museum, Bolinas, CA
2016
The Battery Show, curated by Thomas Moller, The Battery, San Francisco, CA
2016
HERE II: What Cannot be Said, curated by Natasha Boas, speaker Larry Rinder, BAC, Berkeley, CA
2016
Art Palm Beach, N’Namdi Contemporary, West Palm Beach, FL
2016
Message in a Bottle, Sponsered by Park Life & Surfrider Foundation, San Francisco, CA
2014
Holiday Party, Ian Ross Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014
Re-Surfacing: Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco, CA
2010
Gesture, Brian Gross Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2010
Homage to the Artists, Ochi Gallery, Ketchum, ID
2009
Paper/Mylar/Vellum, Brian Gross Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2009
MMFA Loft Exhibition 1, Los Angeles, CA
2009
Inaugural Exhibition, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2008
Uncharted: Imaginary Landscapes, Hayes Valley Market, San Francisco, CA
2008
Forest Alchemy, curated by Tracy Ginsberg, Woodacre, CA
2007
CCA Centennial Exhibition, Brian Gross Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2007
Art Chicago, Julie Baker Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2007
Wynn Macao Grand Concourse Entry (Permanent Installation), Steve Wynn, Macau, China
2007
FADA LACMA Los Angeles Art Show, Julie Baker Fine Art, Santa Monica, CA
2007
Art Miami, Julie Baker Fine Art, Miami, FL
2006
Wynn Las Vegas (Permanent Installation), Steve Wynn, Las Vegas, NV
2006
Au Courant: Introducing 16 Artists New to Bentley, Bentley Projects, Phoenix, AZ
2006
The Village at Squaw, Remote viewing 3, Squaw Valley, CA
2006
NYC 212 Art Fair, Julie Baker Fine Art, New York, NY
2006
Monster Drawing Rally, SoEx, San Francisco, CA
2006
Art 4 Auction, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV
2005
Splat, Sabina Lee Gallery, Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
2005
LA Art Fair, Julie Baker Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA
2005
The Affordable Art Fair, Julie Baker Fine Art, New York, NY
2005
Art Auction, SoEx, San Francisco, CA
2005
Neo Mod: New Northern California Abstractionists, Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey,CA
2005
Neo Mod: New Northern California Abstractionists, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento,CA
2005
Emerging Artists 2005. Curated by Julie Baker Fine Art, Parada Hall, Scottsdale, AR
2005
San Francisco International Art Exposition, Julie Baker Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2005
Close Calls, Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA
2004
San Francisco International Art Exposition, Julie Baker Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2004
Scope Art Fair, Julie Baker Fine Art, Ny, Ny.
2003
The Affordable Art Fair, Julie Baker Fine Art, New York, NY
2003
Chicago Art Fair, Julie Baker Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2003
San Francisco International Art Exposition, Julie Baker Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2002
unDRAWN, The Brewery, curated by Alexandra Grant, Los Angeles, CA
2002
The Affordable Art Fair, Julie Baker Fine Art, New York, NY
2002
Cream, Arts Benicia Center gallery, Benicia, CA
2002
A New World Trade Center: Design Proposals, Max Protech Gallery, New York, NY
2002
Baker’s Dozen, Julie Baker Fine Art, Grass Valley, CA
2001
Introductions South, ICA Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
2000
Tails of the City, Sony Metreon, San Francisco, CA
2000
Works on Paper, Exchange Show: China and American Artist, China
1999
Sunspot Laboratory Show, Fine Arts Gallery, Cal State, Los Angeles, CA
1999
Construction Paper, Door 3 Gallery, Myrtle St, Oakland, CA
1998
ConCurrents, Design Studio 8A, Lafayette St, New York, NY
1996
Dibujos y Suenos, Del Sol, Barcelona, Spain
1995
Hunters Point Installation, 5th year Studios, Santa Cruz, CAPUBLIC/CORPORATE
 
PUBLICATIONS
2020
SMoCA, Post Covid-19 Art World, by Nellie King Solomon, April 16
2019
Larson, Vicki. Marin IJ, Artist Nellie King Solomon creates ‘beautiful pictures of terriblethings’, Aug 7
2019
Heitzler, Drew. Marin Magazine, Push/Pull/Pour Nellie King Solomon’s ZENPOP Paintings, July/Aug
2019
Zoetrope, four pour paintings pg.36, San Francisco, CA
2018
Garchik, Leah, SF Chronicle, Books Glorious Book; SF teachers are forced to beg, Aug 12
2017
Phillips, Joseph, Hyde Park Herald, Connect Gallery to host art exhibit on post-Trump Election, Nov 6
2016
ArtSource, Here II: BAC “What does it mean to think about abstraction?” Curator
2016
Natasha Boas in conversation with BAMPF’s Director Larry Rinder, Feb A Vibrant Family Home, New England Home, Nov-Dec
2016
Sommerbegeghunig; Aufden Spuren Von Black Elk, St. Gallen Tagblatt, Arbon & Romanshorn, Roggwill, Switzerland, July 16
2016
OchiProjectsLA, New Catalogue, May 24
2015
OchiProjectsLA, Michael Shaw The Conversation Podcast, Ep. #113: The Conversation LIVE! with– Katie Bode, Stephanie Pryor and Matt Stromberg, Recorded live before an audience in Nellie King Solomon’s SkyFuel Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
2015
OchiProjectsLA, Nellie King Solomon & Elisa Johns in Conversation, October 17
2015
OchiProjectsLA, Nellie King Solomon & Tomory Dodge in Conversation, August 28
2015
OchiProjectsLA, placement, CARLA Contemporary Art Review, Los Angeles, CA
2015
streetart.com, Artist: Nellie King Solomon
2015
artbusiness.com, Freeform acrylic on Mylar fantasies of Nellie King Solomon
2014
Collins, Simone. Gigaverse.com, How Nellie King Solomon Made Art into a Career
2014
Belle SF, Painting Preview, Feb
2014
ArtBlitz, Out of LA | Nellie King Solomon, April 27
2014
Lauri Levenfeld, The Mom’s Project, Feature on NKS, April 17
2014
Wynn Encore Las Vegas, Taste of the Arts Brochure
2014
artbusiness.com, Alter Space, Jenny Muskopf and Nellie King Solomon -12 of our 84
2014
Possible Past Lives, Sept 27 artforce.org, Resurfacing: Art. Activism. Mapping Enviromental Justice, Jan
2014
Snyder, Carolyn. The Life. The Game. The Magazine., Taking the Fifth, Pebble Beach,
2013
volume fifteen, p. 92-94, June Solnit, Rebecca, Viking Penguin Group, The Faraway Nearby, pg. 123-125
2013
Malin, Ed. NY Theater Indie Archive, The Spectator and The Blind Man: Stories of Seeing and Not Seeing. Theater production in collaboration with Dr. Leona Goodin, Frigid New York, NY, Feb 24
2013
Gillian. Siegel, Artist Crush: Nellie King Solomon, Oct 19
2012
ArtSlant, Nellie King Solomon: On Our San Francisco Watchlist
2011
Rappaport, Scott. University of Santa Cruz News Center, UCSC Art Alumni Exhibition, April 22 Turner, Cherry Louise. Huffington Post, Artist Profile: Nellie King Solomon, Sept 1 updated May 25
2011
Turner, Cherry Louise. Art Ltd, Features: Nellie King Solomon, September
2010
Harvard Review No.37, Art, Nellie King Solomon, March, p.41-45
2010
artdaily.org, Exhibition at BG Explores Uses of Gesture in Abstract Painting, July 6
2010
SFGATE, Nellie King Solomon: Diamond Rings. Paintings on Mylar, Oct 10
2010
artdaily.org, Bay Area Artist Nellie King Solomon Exhibits at Brian Gross Fine Art, Sep
2010
SquareCylinder.com Northern California Art, Paper Mylar Vellum, Aug 10
2009
Ferguson Gussow, Sue. Architects Draw, New York
2008
notcot.org, Nellie King Solomon Paintings, July 15
2008
Roadside Scholar, Nellie King Solomon Paintings, July 14
2008
Wallpaper Magazine, London, England, Yves Behar and Nellie King Solomon
2008
Roadside Scholar, Review, July 14
2008
Ginsberg, Allan. Die Richtung, Things I’ll Not Do (Nostalgia) & Peter Glaser
2007
Der Freund, That’s it, You’re All Set, July
2006
Ennis, Michael. Western Interiors, Steeling Beauty, April-June, p.167
2006
Sunset Magazine, Art Hop: Exploring San Francisco’s 49 Geary, March, p.46
2006
Cash, Stephanie. Art in America, Report from San Francisco: New and Now, January, p.60
2006
Brennenman, Christine. Marin IJ, Working Artist: Intersection of Art and Nature, Sep 6
2006
Baker, Kenneth. San Francisco Chronicle, Fissures Unite Stone: Solomon at Gross,
2005
October 29, Date Book, E12
2005
Hess, Alan. Architectural Digest, It Takes a Village, June, p. 140
2005
Louise Turner, Cherie. ArtWeek, Neo Mod at the Crocker Art Museum, March, p.17
 
LECTURES, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2019
Lucas Art Center Villa Montalvo, Artist Residency Juror, Saratoga, CA
2019
Artist Circle Chair: MFA Vernissage Organizer, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
2019
Lucas Art Center Villa Montalvo, Artist Residency Juror, Saratoga, CA
2009
Painting 1, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
2009
Public Guest Lecturer, Shasta College, Redding, CA
2008
Material Matters, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
2008
Drawing Matters 1, First Year Core, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
2007
Material Matters: Experimental Painting Media, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
2007
Drawing Matters 1, First Year Core, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
2006
Material Matters: Workshop in Experimental Painting Media, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
2006
Drawing Workshop: Body and Machine, Industrial Design, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2006
Running a Walk-in Drawing Salon, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2006
DDII: Design Drawing II, Drawing for Industrial Designers, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2006
Extension Program, Drawing on a Grand Scale, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2006
Review Panelist, Under Graduate Painting, Junior Reviews, CCA, San Francisco, CA
2006
Founder and Lead of Alumni Critique Group, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2005
Artistic Director and Lead Teacher, Young Artist in Residence (YAR) Summer Program, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, CA
2005
Self-Portraiture Drawing and Painting Classes, LEAP Bessie Carmichael & Longfellow Middle School, SF, CA
2005
Featured Artists Discussion, NeoMod. New Northern California Abstractionists, Crocker
2005
Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
2004
Guest critic for Arch 11B: Introductory Architectural Design Studio, Professor Keith Plymale, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
2004
Liquid Spaces: Figure Drawing to Engineers, Sherwood Engineers, San Francisco, CA
2004
Developed Young Artist in Residence (YAR) Summer Program, MAC, Saratoga, CA
2004
Artistic Director and Lead Teacher, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, CA
2004
Teacher for Adult Drawing Classes, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, CA
2004
Surfing Instructor, Girls Adventure Out, Pacifica, CA
2003
Teacher for Adult Drawing Classes, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, CA
2003
Art Teacher, 2nd-5th Graders, LEAP, West Portal School, San Francisco, CA
2003
Art Teacher for A Living Library Garden, James Denman Middle School, San Francisco, CA
2002
Art Teacher for A Living Library Garden, James Denman Middle School, San Francisco, CA
2002
Guest Speaker, San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco, CA
2002
Guest Speaker, Donald Feasel’s Painting Class, CCA, SF, CA
2002
Painting Drawing Teacher, SFLEAP Enola Maxwell Middle School for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2001
Artist Lecture, Braunstein/Quay Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2001
Mary Snowden’s Advanced Painting, Guest Speaker, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2001
Linda Geary’s Senior Painting Project, Teaching Assistant and Lecturer, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2000
Kim Anno’s Beginning Drawing Teacher’s Assistant, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
1998
Art Teacher, Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn, NY
1989
Art Teacher, De Avilla School, San Francisco, CA
1988
Art Teacher, Live Oak School, San Francisco, CA