Artist Profile

Nikki Paris

Novato, CA

“Ch, ch, ch, changes…” My work’s focus has changed overtime, as all things tend to do. I try to embrace this fully and am continually inspired & awed by the Bay Area in general. Having traveled a bit over the years, both around the US and internationally, I have come to deeply appreciate the lovely bubble in which we live. Within the Bay Area, even a casual saunter can yield incredible views to lighten the heart and mind. This constantly affects my ongoing work for the better. And having a place like Marin MOCA to help promote and sustain the local art community is essential.

Given my interest in art and having grown up in the Bay Area, earning a degree from UC Berkeley in the Practice of Fine Arts felt like a natural step forward. While attending art schools at CCSF and CAL, I studied under a wonderful staff of practicing artists, all of whom were of immense inspiration. My special thanks are extended to ceramicist Peter Voulkos; painters: Karl Kasten, Joan Brown, David Simpson, Boyd Allen, and sculptor Richard O’Hanlon, to name a few. After a career in radio, working at iconic Bay Area stations such as: KFOG, KNBR, TheBONE, KCBS, ALICE, and LIVE105, phew, I now work out of my Novato studio, concentrating fully on artistic expressions in watercolor, acrylics, pen & ink, and charcoal on paper, canvas, cardboard, and linen. I’d like to give a big shout out to my family, long time pals, and more recent art friends & teachers - all of whom continue to stoke the fires of creativity.