We recently connected with Nicci Sevier-Vuyk and have shared our conversation below.

Nicci, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I’m often asked if I wish I had started my career sooner or later, and it’s a question I’ve thought about a lot. On the one hand, there’s a part of me that wonders what my life would have been like if I had pursued art from a younger age. Maybe I would have had more time to develop my skills and explore different mediums. On the other hand, I believe that everything happens for a reason and that my path to becoming an artist was shaped by my experiences as a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Before delving into my art career full-time in 2015, I worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner in Texas. While it may seem like an unlikely background for an artist, I believe that my experience working with children gave me a unique perspective on the world and helped me develop my artistic style and focus. Kids have a way of looking at the world that’s full of wonder, honesty and curiosity, and I think that’s something that comes through in my art. They also understand the value of play as an important part of life, and I try to capture that sense of joy and fun in my work.
Looking back, I think that my background in nursing has actually helped me become the artist I am today. It taught me to be observant, empathetic, and to see the beauty in the small things. I think that starting my art career when I did has given me a unique set of opportunities. I’ve been able to take advantage of the internet and social media to reach a wider audience and sell my work independently, but also collaborate with galleries and art consultants to sell my work.
So, while there’s a part of me that wonders what could have been, I’m ultimately happy with the choices I’ve made and the path that has led me to where I am today.

Nicci, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Nicci Sevier-Vuyk, and I am contemporary American artist, known for my striking acrylic paintings and sculptures of iconic objects from American culture. My art is inspired by my fascination with the relationship between appearance and meaning, as well as my exploration of themes related to the stereotypes of beauty. My love for painting and sculpture began in my early years and is complemented by my successful career as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Although I have studied at The Glassell School of Art in Houston, I am primarily self-taught, forging my own unique path as an artist.
My still life subjects are toys, candy, and flowers, and my work is a playful exploration of the complex and often contradictory messages surrounding beauty and appearance in our society. Drawing inspiration from childhood memories, familiar objects, and a sense of nostalgia, I use my art to delve deeper into the stereotypes that pervade our cultural understanding of beauty. My playful and subversive style challenges conventional notions of desirability, using humor and irony to invite viewers to question their assumptions and explore new perspectives.
I am proud to have had three solo exhibitions and to have been included in many juried exhibitions. Ultimately, my art is about celebrating the joy of creativity and the power of imagination to transform the world around us. To see more of my artwork, please visit my website at nicciseviervuyk.com.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe that society can do a lot to support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem. One of the simplest and most effective ways is by recognizing the value of art and incorporating it into our daily lives. This can include things like visiting museums and galleries, following artists on social media, and collecting art to decorate our homes and workplaces.

It’s also important to acknowledge creative careers as valid and valuable career options. Artistic professions add significant value to society and enrich our individual lives and spaces. We should encourage young people to pursue their artistic passions and provide resources and support to help them succeed.

Another crucial way to support the arts is by honoring the value of arts education in primary and secondary schools. By providing students with opportunities to learn about and participate in various artistic disciplines, we can nurture the next generation of artists and help them develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

Overall, I believe that by recognizing the value of art, promoting creative careers, and investing in arts education, we can create a more vibrant and thriving creative ecosystem that benefits us all. And I invite everyone to explore my artwork on my website as a way to engage with the beauty and power of art in our lives.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My artistic mission is to create personally fulfilling artwork that helps collectors and others see the world outside the bounds of societal standards or stereotypes. Through my work, I strive to tap into a sense of fun and play in a way that encourages viewers to think more deeply about the standards that society tries to impose upon us. By challenging conventional notions of beauty and appearance in a playful and subversive way, I hope to inspire others to question their assumptions and explore new perspectives. Ultimately, I want to create art that is not only visually appealing but also thought-provoking and socially relevant.

Contact Info:

• Website: nicciseviervuyk.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicciseviervuyk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicciseviervuyk
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicciseviervuyk/