Karen Nicol
Karen Nicol is a mixed-media and embroidery artist and designer from Britain, who works from her London-based studio.
Since 2010 Karen has worked as an artist, making her embroidered and sculptured animals, specially created creatures with bespoke, haute couture materials ranging from Napoleonic polar bears to jewel encrusted deer and fringed and sequined zebras. Most of the materials she uses come from car boots and flea markets, and she uses a 50-year-old Singer sewing machine. As she has worked with so many creative minds throughout the years, on commissions and collaborations with the likes of Clements Ribeiro who asked for a "Frida Kahlo meets Singapore whorehouse" collection, she truly lets her imagination run wild.
Karen Nicol's mother and sister were both embroiderers, and even though Karen wanted to study Fine Arts, she found that nothing beat the diversity of textiles and went to the Royal College of Arts for a Masters in embroidery. For many years she has created fashion textiles for prestigious fashion brands, from Alexander McQueen to Chanel and Givenchy and has counted clients such as the King of Qatar or the Pope himself!
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Karen NicolIce Bear, 2017Mixed media, embroidered100 x 130 cm (40 x 62 in)
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Karen NicolDinner Date, 2016Mixed media, embroidered and pleated silk170 x 90 cm (66.9 x 35.4 in)
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Karen NicolA Good Deed is Never Wasted, 2016Mixed media, hand stitched and painted100 x 146 cm (39.3 x 57.4 in)
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Karen NicolFeature Film, 2015Mixed media, embroidered with hand cut negatives and sequin film118 x 98 cm (46.5 x 38.5 in)
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Karen NicolShoelace Cat, 2012Mixed media, embroidered100 x 61 cm (39.3 x 24 in)
Based in London, Karen Nicol is now a honorary fellow at the RCA, and has been a visiting professor for twenty years. She was made Royal Designer for Industry by the RSA in 2015 and has exhibited her work in solo shows and fairs accross the world.
SOLO & GROUP SHOWS
2017
Fashion pieces for Jasper Conran
AAF London
AAF Hong kong
Context art New York
K+Y Gallery, Paris
2016
World map large scale art commission, Black Rock investment bank, Hong Kong
Europe map large scale art commission, Black Rock investment bank, Paris
Solo Show Cricket Fine Art, London
Wit Gallery, Massachusetts
Ruthin Gallery, Wales
Fashion pieces for Alexander McQueen and Jasper Conran
Interior works for Katherine Pooley
2015
Bull Market and Bear Market art commission, Black Rock investment bank, Copenhagen
Art Pieces for Lidewij Edelkoort Fetishism show, Trapholt museum, Denmark
2014
Solo Show Rebecca Hossack gallery, "The Edge of the Woods", New York
Royal Academy summer show, London
Art Fairs : Melbourne, Hamptons, New york, London
2013
Art pieces for Lidewij Edelkoort Fashion Fetishism Biennale, Holland
Solo show Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, London
Lapada Art and Antiques Fair, London
Art Fairs : Melbourne, Hong Kong, Paris
2012
Solo show, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, New York
Solo show, Marylebone Hotel, London
Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London
Lapada Art and Antiques Fair, London
Decorex International, London
Art Fairs : London, Melbourne, Hamptons
2011
Exhibition "Lovelace", Power House Museum, Sydney
Grayson Perry doll with Liberty London
London Art Fair
AAF London
AAF New York
AAF Singapore
Art London
Art Melbourne
Art Toronto
2010
Solo Show, Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, London
Sydney Art Fair
Art London