BIOGRAPHY
Christy Nelson received her BFA in Painting from Mississippi State University in 2007. In 2019, she completed her MFA in Painting from Colorado State University where she is an instructor of Two-Dimensional Visual Fundamentals and Painting I. In her artwork she explores themes of vulnerability and healing. While she works in many mediums, encaustic is a recurring favorite. Recently, she has been awarded the Kennedy Center Art Scholarship, the Keith Foskin Master of Fine Arts Scholarship, the Lilyblade Scholarship, and a distinction in creativity at the Graduate Student Showcase along with the Juror’s Award for Excellence and the Magnolia House Purchase Award in the Colorado State Student Exhibition. She was selected to be an artist-in-residence with Half Crown Creative for a four-month residency in 2020 and was awarded an Emerging Artist Grant from International Encaustic Artists in 2021.
CURRICULUM VITÆ
EDUCATION
2019 MFA / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
2007 BFA / Summa Cum Laude / Honors College / Mississippi State University / Starkville, MS
SOLO
2023
Pour Form / 3 Square Art: 203 / Fort Collins, CO
2022
In the Flesh / Half Crown Creative Comfort Paintings / Fort Collins, CO
2021
Comfort Paintings / Bolt Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Days / Half Crown Creative / Fort Collins, CO
2019
Transform / Bolt Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Forms of Transformation / Colorado State University: Directions Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
2018
Holistic / Colorado State University: Directions Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
2017
Shed / Colorado State University: Glass Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Skin / Colorado State University: Mini Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
2015
Drawn / Artist Association of Northern Colorado: Studio A / Fort Collins, CO
2012
Still / The Grand Manse / Lincoln, NE
Flight for Janet / Studio 9 - Gallery 9 / Lincoln, NE
SELECTED GROUP
2023
100 Square Inches of Art / 3 Square Art / Fort Collins, CO
NOOBAA (Juror: David Reif) / 3 Square Art / Fort Collins, CO
Form Porn 1 / Dinghy Rig / Fort Collins, CO
2022
Voices and Visions: The Art and Science Climate Action / 2022 United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change Conference of the Parties / Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
2021
Lost and Found / The Collective Community Art Center / Lafayette, CO
The Really Really Good Abstract Art Show / ShockBoxx Gallery / Hermosa Beach, CA
(re)Building / Atlantic Gallery / New York, NY
Out of Place, Out of Bounds / Artworks Center for Contemporary Art / Loveland, CO
Masks Exhibition / Museum of Art | Fort Collins / Fort Collins, CO
2020
Masks Exhibition / Museum of Art | Fort Collins / Fort Collins, CO
Lenten Exhibition / Bolt Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
The Art of Hope (Juror: John Sabraw) / Mississippi State University: Cullis Wade Depot Art Gallery / Starkville, MS
2019
Monochromatic: A National Juried Exhibition (Juror: Jason Roth) / Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts / Lubbock, TX
Visions of The Nutcracker / Bolt Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Okay, Where is the Cake? / Online Exhibition / Warbling Collective / London, UK
Was It Worth It: RedLine’s 6th Annual Juried Exhibition (Curator and Juror: Ivar Zeile) / Redline Contemporary Art Center / Denver, CO
MFA Thesis Exhibition / Gregory Allicar Museum of Art / Fort Collins, CO
2018
Noetic Matter / CSU Pueblo Fine Art Gallery / Pueblo, CO
Degrees Minutes Seconds / Clara Hatton Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Entanglements: A Showcase of Emerging Artists / The Downtown Artery / Fort Collins, CO
Statements: 50 Years of Making (Juror: Wesley Stuckey) / Mississippi State University: Davis Wade Stadium Gallery / Starkville, MS
(de)composition / Colorado State University: Directions Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
2017
Common Wealth / Half Crown Creative Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Student Exhibition (Fall) / Colorado State University: Curfman Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
WCA/CO Metamorphosis National Juried Show (Juror: Bobbi Walker) / Core New Art Space / Denver, CO
12 x 12 National Juried Exhibition (Juror: Hong Zhang) / Lawrence Arts Center / Lawrence, KS
We Emerge / William E. Morgan Library: First National Bank Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Coping / Towson University: Holtzman MFA Gallery / Towson, MD
Binding / Wolverine Farm Letterpress & Publick House Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
Student Exhibition (Spring) / Colorado State University: Curfman Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
2016
Convergence / Adams State University : Cloyde Snook Gallery / Alamosa, CO
Selected Graduate Student Works / Colorado State University: Directions Gallery / Fort Collins, CO
2014
Safe / 8th and D Gallery / Lincoln, NE
2013
Jackson Preparatory School Alumni Art Show / The Mary Katharine Loyacono McCravey Art Gallery / Jackson, MS
The July Invitational / Gallery 9 / Lincoln, NE
2012
Wrappable / LUX Center for the Arts / Lincoln, NE
Remapping Surfaces / The Tugboat Gallery / Lincoln, NE
The July Invitational / Gallery 9 / Lincoln, NE
Les Femmes Folles Voice / The New BLK / Omaha, NE
2007
Thesis / McComas Gallery / Starkville, MS
AWARDS
2022
Honorable Mention / NOOBAA 23 / (Juror: David Reif) / 3 Square Art / Fort Collins, CO
2021
Emerging Artist Grant / International Encaustic Artists
2020
Artist-in-Residence / Half Crown Creative / Fort Collins, CO
2019
New American Painting Juror’s Selection / No. 144 / Western Edition
2018
Distinction in Creativity / Graduate Student Showcase / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
Keith Foskin Master of Fine Arts Scholarship
Lilyblade Scholarship
2017
Juror’s Award for Excellence (Juror: Dr. Lynn Boland) / Student Exhibition / Fort Collins, CO
2nd place / 12 x 12 National Juried Exhibition (Juror: Hong Zhang) / Lawrence Arts Center / Lawrence, KS
Kennedy Center Art Scholarship
Magnolia House Purchase Award / Student Exhibition / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
EXPERIENCE
2020
Events and Volunteer Coordinator / Museum of Art / Fort Collins, CO
Artist-in-Residence / Half Crown Creative / Fort Collins, CO
2019
Events Coordinator / Museum of Art / Fort Collins, CO
Mural Assistant / Boulder Mural Project / Boulder, CO
Museum Attendant / Gregory Allicar Museum of Art / Fort Collins, CO
Instructor of Record / Painting I / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
2018-2019
Gallery Manager / First National Bank Gallery / Morgan Library / Fort Collins, CO
2017-2019
Treasurer / Master of Visual Artists Association / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
2016-2019
Guest Critic / Painting III / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
Graduate Student Showcase / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
2018
Curatorial Team Member / Spatial Flux / Gregory Allicar Museum of Art / Fort Collins, CO
Team Lead / Mulligan / Zero Craft Corp / Fort Collins, CO
Lindsay Preston Zappas: Black and Yellow Workshop / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
2017-2018
Instructor of Record / 2D Fundamentals / Colorado State University / Fort Collins, CO
2013-2014
Private Lesson Instructor / Lincoln, NE
2013
Encaustic Workshop / LUX Center for the Arts / Lincoln, NE
2011
Session 4 / Tiny Circus Summer Camp / Grinnell, IA
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS AND SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
The Karen and Robert Duncan Collection of Art / Lincoln, NE
Magnolia House Collection of Art / Fort Collins, CO
Mason Bee Habitat Commission / United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) / Fort Collins, CO
The Curfman Gallery Permanent Collection / Fort Collins, CO
PUBLICATIONS
Colorado State University. “MFA Thesis Exhibition Opening.” Accessed May 5, 2019. https://artmuseum.colostate.edu/events/mfa-thesis-exhibition-opening/.
Baines, Sarah. “Art enlivens former Boulder Community Health site ‘Mural Monday’ highlights creativity at Broadway and Balsam.” The Daily Camera, August 17, 2019. https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/08/17/art-enlivens-former-boulder-community-health-site/.
Dik, Bryan. “Working in New Creation Hope.” In Redeeming Work: A Guide to Discovering God's Calling for Your Career, 143-160. West Conshohocken: Templeton Press, 2020.
Nelson, Christy. “Forms of Transformation.” Master’s Thesis, Colorado State University, 2019.
Nelson, Christy, Kyle Vincent Singer, and Emily Sullivan. “Space Destroyed.” In Spatial Flux: Contemporary Drawings from the JoAnn Gonzalez Hickey Collection, edited by Lynn Boland and Emily Moore, 28-35. Fort Collins: CSU Creative Services, 2018.
Nelson, Christy. “Okay, where is the Cake?” Interview by Robyn Graham. Warbling Collective, October 13, 2019. https://www.warbling.co.uk/christy-nelson.
Nelson, Christy. “Redeeming Work 2.5: An Interview with Christy Nelson, Studio Artist.” Interview by Bryan Dik. The Purposeful Work Podcast, Buzzsprout. May 8, 2020. Audio, 31:17. https://www.buzzsprout.com/525877/3682708.
Nelson, Jennifer. “Art seniors display talents in Senior Thesis Exhibit.” The Reflector, November 13, 2007. http://www.reflector-online.com/article_c0ce279b-0d1b-55b9-8990-347bca86d725.html.
New American Paintings. No. 144, Western Edition. 2020.
Rhein, Jonny. “Student Art Exhibition on display in the Curfman Gallery.” The Collegian, November 16, 2017. https://collegian.com/2017/11/2017-student-art-exhibition-on-display-in-the-curfman-gallery/.
Timberline Old Town. “Christy Nelson | Transform.” Recorded June 23, 2019 at Bolt Gallery, Fort Collins, CO. Audio, 12:21. https://timberlineoldtown.libsyn.com/christy-nelson-transform.