Nic Noblique
Nature has always informed my work. Other influences have come from traveling as a teen to Europe and visiting museums, often spending hours studying the sculpture and paintings. Snowboarding and skateboarding have been a substantial inspiration in how I translate ideas from my head to the studio for production. Transitions in the landscape; hills, slopes, gaps, gorges, and inclines, for example, naturally translate in my mind to form line, curvature and balance in mathematical terms. I work in steel and my studio is capable of most fabrication needs including quite monumental works. I have fabricated some of my own machinery that allows me to push the limits. Most notably, my 60-ton cold rolling / 3-bar pinch rolling machine that is built from entirely recycled parts including a 50-year-old transmission from an oil jack-pump. I do love to play with color in juxtaposition to the environment and surroundings, often making use of how color can elicit physical reactions and emotional responses. I am drawn to rusted patinas and stainless steel for their ability to stand out and sustainability is at the forefront of my process.
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Nic Noblique is a Texas based sculptor whose preferred medium is steel. Asked to kindly leave the Colorado Institute of Art after only a few short weeks of class, he has gone on to harness a rebellious and tenacious need to succeed on his own terms. Growing up immersed in the punk rock, skateboard and snowboard culture of the Midwest, Nic developed a passion that led to owning skate and snow retail shops in Wisconsin, California, and the Pacific Northwest. He placed in the X-Games (1995) for snowboarding and after studying pliable materials engineering, contributed a new ‘center point concave’ skate deck that remains the industry standard today. He continued to apply creative insight with an understanding of physics to design and produce indoor and outdoor skate and snow parks. In his early 20’s, with much of his body broken twice over, he left the skate and snow industry to pursue his other passion, a career in fine art. Returning to the family acreage in West Texas in 2000, he picked up an old stick welder and has never looked back. Nic has participated in many sculpture competitions, solo and group exhibitions with respected galleries and art centers nationally and works with numerous charities and arts initiatives to improve our communities and lives through art. Nic has enjoyed teaching graduate level 3D art at Hardin Simmons University and continues to foster the growth of young talent through apprenticeships via McMurry University. Nic has owned two retail galleries, both highly regarded in their respective communities and even garnering a ‘best art gallery’ award in 2008 for his successful alternative art space and studio concept in Galveston, Texas. Nic has commissioned hundreds of works both privately and publicly, and been honored with awards in sculpture including the prestigious international Navy Pier Walk Competition in 2003 (Juror, David Pagel), a Joan Mitchell Foundation grant recipient in 2008 for disaster relief after losing his studio to Hurricane Ike and First Place Recognition for “Even Your Emotions Have an Echo” in cooperation with Henderson Art Project 2012.
EXHIBITIONS
2016
The Block Gallery, Solo Exhibition, September, Sioux City, IA
Artoretum On The Block, Sculpture Exhibition benefiting the Sioux City Conservatory of Music, September, Sioux City, IA
Cerulean Gallery, Group Exhibition, September, Amarillo, TX
Good Art Company, Group Exhibition, May, Fredericksburg, TX
Art On Henderson, Outdoor Sculpture Competition, March, Dallas, TX
Southwest Gallery, Ongoing Group Exhibition, March, Dallas, TX
2015
Cerulean Gallery, Group Exhibition, November, Amarillo, TX
Third Coast Gallery, Group Exhibition, November, Galveston TX
Artoretum, Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition benefiting the Sioux City Conservatory of Music, September, Sioux City, IA
Art On Henderson, Outdoor Sculpture Competition Finalist, August, Dallas, TX
Southwest Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Welcoming Exhibition, June, Dallas, TX
2014
Rebecca Low Gallery, Group Exhibition, FWADA Spring Gallery Night, March, Ft. Worth, Texas
Mod Artists Gallery, Grand Opening Group Exhibition, September, Dallas, Texas
Artoretum, Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition benefiting the Sioux City Conservatory of Music, September, Sioux City, IA
2013
Rebecca Low Gallery, Group Exhibition, FWADA Spring Gallery Night, March, Ft. Worth, Texas
Alan Simmons Art + Design, Solo Exhibition, “Fear of Endangerment”, October, Dallas, Texas
UDR / Fiori at Vitruvian Park, Grand Opening and Unveiling of Dale Chihuly and Nic Noblique Installations, March, Addison, Texas
Pippin Contemporary, Group Exhibition, Selected Sculpture, May, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Spring Street Studios, Group Exhibition, “Sweet Sixteen”, April-May, Houston, Texas
2012
iLume Gallery, Group Exhibition, “Objects of Desire II”, November 1-30, Dallas, Texas
MOD Artists @ Studio 727 , East Austin Studio Tour, Group Exhibition, November 10-24, Austin, Texas
COBRA Studios , East Austin Studio Tour, Group Exhibition, November 10-24, Austin, Texas
Sculpture on the River Market, Sale and Competition, October 19-22, Little Rock, Arkansas
iLume Gallery, modART Group Show, Dallas, Texas, April - May
Gallery M Squared, Solo Show, “Heavy Metal Peep Show”, Houston, Texas, April - May
Rebecca Low Gallery; Group Exhibition for “Ft. Worth Spring Gallery Night”, March
2011
COBRA Studios, East Austin Studio Tour, Group Exhibition, November
Rising Gallery, Solo Show, “Texas Suburban Wasteland Blues”, Dallas, Texas, September 2 - September 30
LAFTA; Lampasas Art in the Park, Outdoor Exhibition featuring “Lost in Wisconsin”, Lampasas, Texas, April
Rebecca Low Gallery; Group Exhibition for “Ft. Worth Spring Gallery Night”, March
Savor Dallas; Featured Artist, March
The Cameron Gallery; Solo Show “Music, Flame Retardants and a Tetanus Shot”, March
2010
Northwest Arkansas Community College; Outdoor Exhibition and Permanent Installation of “Circle Squared Again”, Bentonville Arkansas, November
East Austin Studio Tour; COBRA Studios featured artist exhibiting nine sculptures, November
Samuel Lynne Galleries, Wild About SAFY, Live Auction and Benefit aiding the lives of Texas Foster Children. November 9, Dallas TX
EAST; East Austin Studio Tour, Sculpture and Paintings, COBRA Studios, November, Austin TX
TractorBeam Gallery, WELL VERSED, Group Show, September 24 - October 24, Dallas TX
Leon County Art Trails, Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, Juried Exhibition of large scale outdoor works for one year, October 2010-October 2011, Jewett Texas
Pippin & Meikle Fine Art, New Sculpture, May, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Benini Sculpture Ranch and Galleries, New Sculpture, May, Johnson City, Texas
Cameron Gallery, Solo Show, Grind Hassle Jump Jam!, Paintings and Sculpture, April 10, 2010 - May 7, Dallas, TX.
Savor Dallas 2010, Featured Artist, AT&T Performing Arts Center, Sammons Park, and as part of the International Grand Tasting at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, March
Sculptors Dominion Invitational 2010, 4 works on display, San Antonio Tx, March 2010 through 2011
2009
The Center For Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, November – December, Abilene, Texas
Art-Right LLC, Private Event for Houston Area Architects and Consultants, “Functional Sculpture”, Houston, Texas, November
2008
Savor Dallas, Featured Artist, March 2008
Nic Noblique Studio Gallery monthly exhibitions and featured group exhibits in conjunction with Art Walk, Galveston, Texas, March 2007 through November 2008
Artist Boat Fundraiser, Hosted by the Nic Noblique Studio Gallery, October 2008, Galveston, Texas
2007
Elder Street Artists Gallery, Group Exhibition, November, Houston, Texas
Earth Center and Gallery 101, Group Exhibition, August, Houston, Texas
Art-Right, LLC, Group Exhibition, August, Houston, Texas
2006
Benini Sculpture Ranch and Galleries; On-going Exhibition of two large scale works beginning May 2006, Johnson City, Texas
Noblique’s Gallery A-go-go; Up From Ashes, Solo exhibit featuring new work, April, Abilene, Texas
Sculptors Dominion Invitational 2006, International Sculpture Exhibition April, San Antonio, Texas
Breckenridge Fine Arts Center, The New School, curated by Noblique, Feb-April, Breckenridge, Texas
Earth Gallery; Group Exhibition; March, Houston, Texas
2005
Center For Contemporary Art, Members Group Show, December, Abilene, Texas
Fine Line Designs, Group Exhibition, Town Line Art Fair, September 2005, Ephraim, Wisconsin
Buchanan Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Explorations in Steel, Galveston, TX, August
Blossom Street Gallery, Group Exhibition, Noblique and Roaderer, Houston, TX, May
Guadalupe River Sculpture Ranch, Group Exhibition, San Antonio, TX
2004
The Center for Contemporary Art, Artist Members Group Exhibit, Abilene, TX, October
The Center for Contemporary Art, Abilene, TX Twenty Choices Solo Exhibit, Gallery I, July – August
Sculptors Dominion Invitational 2004, San Antonio, TX, May
Jody Klotz-Vletas Fine Art, New Works: Sculptures and Paintings Solo
Exhibit, Abilene, TX, December – February 2004
2003
Wired Designs, Light Up, Solo Outdoor Exhibit, San Antonio, TX, November
Manor House Gallery, Boerne, TX Solo Sculpture Garden Exhibit, October
Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, presented by The Texas Society of Sculptors, Sculpfest 2003, Austin, Texas, September
Town Center Gallery, Group Exhibition, Valencia, California, September
Jody Klotz-Vletas Fine Art, Trees and Flowers Solo Exhibit, Abilene, Texas, September
Breckenridge Fine Arts Center, Drawings, Painting, and Sculpture, Breckenridge, Texas, July
Navy Pier Walk 2003, Chicago, IL, May 2003 David Pagel Juror
Gallery 37, Maquette Show, Chicago, IL, May
The Center for Contemporary Arts, Wildwired Solo Exhibition, Abilene, Texas, April
2002
The Center for Contemporary Arts, Deck the Walls, Abilene, TX, December
Hardin Simmons University, Faculty Art Show, Abilene, TX, October
The Center for Contemporary Arts, Dia de los Muertos, Abilene, TX, October
COMMISSIONS AND PUBLIC ART
Inspiration, 50 ft Tall Commission in Stainless Steel for Huffines’ Master Planned Community, May 2015, St. Paul, Texas
Vitruvian Park, 15 Permanent Sculptures and Commission of 100-piece wall installation, December, Addison, Texas
Baylor Heart Hospital; Plano, TX, November 2012 “PUMP” a 12ft tall sculpture in powder coated corten steel.
Forest Park Medical Center; Dallas, TX, June 2011 “Good Genes” a 12ft tall sculpture in stainless steel and powder coated corten steel.
The Gables Park 17 Luxury High Rise Residential in Dallas, Texas; Permanent acquisition of “Wounded”, “Cherry Bomb” and “Three”, May 2011.
Racine, Wisconsin Uptown Arts District by commission for The City of Racine, “The Last of Ike”. June 2009.
The CORE Apartments via The Morgan Group, “Chaos” in Candy Red, permanent placement on premises located on trendy Washington for the upscale urban multi-family award winning development in Houston, Texas, Spring 2009
Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut: “Unity” was commissioned by the college via a gift of Marshall Blume and created to celebrate the rich and diverse community that is Hartford. December 2007
Monroe County Community College for the Meyer Theatre and La-Z-Boy Center; “Circle Squared”, September 2007.
Dr. Sam Spence, Dentistry. “Elephant” (A life-size steel elephant with stainless steel tusks) by commission for the courtyard. Abilene, Texas, 2007
McMurry University, “Ebb and Flow”, Abilene, Texas, Winter 2007
Multi-Physician Medical Facility, By Commission, “Old Glory No II”, San Antonio, Texas, Summer 2007
The Mall of Abilene, Abilene, Texas: Old Glory, 19 ft tall American Flag was dedication in honor of our men and women in service, permanent public installation June 2006
Denton City Hall, Denton, TX: Festival In Motion, a.k.a. Woman Rolling Down a Hill, purchased by the Denton Festival Foundation for the City of Denton, May 2004
Waterworks Park, Denton, TX: Yellow Baugh Flower, purchased by the City of Denton, May 2003
Civic Center Park, Denton, TX: Circle Tree, purchased by the City of Denton, May 2003
Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, TX: “Tense”, 2002
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Art on Henderson; April 2012, One of 7 finalists, Awards Ceremony TBA May 2012
Joan Mitchell Foundation; December 2008, sole recipient of a $6000 grant to aid in rebuilding studio after Hurricane Ike.
Featured Artist; 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011Savor Dallas
Featured Artist; 2006 Artoberfest, Galveston Island, Texas
Featured Artist; 2006 Abilene Artist’s and Artisans Studio Tour.
The Texas Society of Sculptors, Sculptfest 2003 Publication Cover Art, Special Recognition for Explosion of the Heart, Steel Sculpture
Navy Pier Walk 2003, International Outdoor Sculpture Competition at Chicago’s Navy Pier, “Runner”, steel sculpture, exhibited May through October 2003, Juror David Pagel
Oklahoma City Art Festival 2003, Ribbon and Cash Award in Sculpture for Explosion of the Heart, Steel Sculpture
Denton Art and Jazz Festival 2003, Best of Show in Sculpture, Denton, TX, April, 2003
Grant for the construction and permanent installation of large outdoor sculpture “Tense” at Hardin Simmons University while serving as Visiting Adjunct Professor of 3-D Art, Abilene, TX, Fall 2002
TEACHING APPOINTMENTS
Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, Texas Visiting Adjunct Professor of 3D ArtSpring Semester 2002