Avery Z. Nelson’s paintings convey a sense of movement, fluidity and transformation. The artist’s work frequently uses hues that slide from one to another, capturing colors in moments of transition as they change from warm to cool tones. Nelson’s compositions combine their deft use of color with an exploration of form—depicting seemingly abstract shapes as they shift into figures with dynamic possibilities.

BIO:

Avery Z. Nelson was born in Rhinebeck, New York in 1983. The artist received an MFA in Painting from Columbia University in New York City in 2009, and a BA in Art History, Visual Art Concentration from Columbia University in New York City in 2006.

Solo exhibitions of Nelson’s work include: The Measure of a Boi at Rubber Factory in New York City (2019); Body Building at JDJ Presents the Ice House in Garrison, New York (2018); Legacy Exhibition Series: New Work by Zoe Nelson at The Lighthouse Works Gallery in Fishers Island, New York (2017); Zoe Nelson: Recto/Verso at Cleve Carney Art Gallery, McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois (2015); Zoe Nelson at Western Exhibitions in Chicago, Illinois (2014); and Deep Cuts: Zoe Nelson at Lloyd Dobler Gallery in Chicago, Illinois (2012).

Group exhibitions that have shown Nelson’s work have taken place at: JDJ Tribeca in New York City; Rachel Uffner Gallery in New York City; Mrs. in New York City; Rubber Factory in New York City; Russo & Lee in Portland, Oregon; Crush Curatorial in New York City; Klaus Von Nicktssagend Gallery in New York City; 1969 Gallery in New York City; Juxtapoz Projects, Mana Contemporary in Jersey City, New Jersey; DePaul Art Museum in Chicago, Illinois; 190 Cook Street in Brooklyn, New York; Fresh Window Gallery in Brooklyn, New York; and Produce Model in Chicago, Illinois; among others.

Nelson’s work has been shown at art fairs, including: the Dallas Art Fair at JDJ | Ice House in Dallas, Texas; the Future Art Fair at JDJ | Ice House in New York City; and the Untitled Art Fair at South of the Tracks Gallery in Miami Beach, Florida.

Nelson’s work is in the public collections of DePaul Art Museum in Chicago, Illinois and the Jiménez - Colón Collection in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Nelson’s work has been covered by numerous publications, including: The Brooklyn Rail, Artspace, Artforum, and New American Paintings, among others.

Nelson was recently an artist in residence at the Sharpe Walentas Foundation in Brooklyn, New York.