Overview

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!

Works
Biography

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