NIKKI DAVIS – THE WAR WITHIN

This exhibition round includes works provided by Nikki Davis which will be on view in the Second Floor Connector  Gallery from February 7  – March 30, 2024.  Lowe Mill A&E invites patrons and art lovers to join us for Open Studio Night, a building-wide experience when our over 150 studios will be open to the public.  The evening also includes receptions for all seven of our gallery spaces. This series gives the public a chance to meet and interact with visiting artists and discuss their work as it is on display and available for purchase. Come out, enjoy a pleasant evening, and maybe you’ll find that special piece of art that speaks to you!  The Open Studio Night reception is Saturday, March 30 from 5-7 pm.

About the exhibit:

Happiness adds and multiplies, as we divide it with others – A. Nielson

The war within represents a sort of internal conflict that so many of us tend to battle; however, this exhibition is a direct representation of my battle as an artist, a woman, and a woman with mental illness. Each face in the war within then represents a diagnosis and, or personality trait that so many of us can identify with. The flowers in colorful abstract pictures represent my progression as an artist, and as a person that once took life for granted, but now represent my joy and passion creating colorful representations of my joy and happiness. Colors, to me, represent happiness in the sad world. I feel as though I have won my war within, solely with this exhibition, and by achieving my first goal that I set with pure intentions. This, along with my colorfully emotional creations show my journey, my life, and mainly my emotions. Like A. Nielson, I would like to divide my happiness with others by exhibiting and sharing my art with the world that represents my happiness. I hope my pieces allow you to see happiness or even a chance to share a different perception of what beauty is.

About the artist:

I accidentally fell into creating my very first work of art by refusing to pay $50 for a paint pour that was for sale on marketplace on Facebook. I decided that a paint pour could not be that difficult to make and attempted to create the painting I wanted. Little did I know that with this single decision, I had decided to finally insert peace into my chaotic life, unintentionally. Being a self taught artist for two years before I gave up on paint pores, I finally turned more towards the more abstract and contemporary style of art. I have learned through a lot of YouTube videos and from the help of a few of my artistic friends. I’m the only visual artist in my family and have recently attempted to begin to learn the electric guitar. Art to me is anything that makes you feel good, think, or question perception. Beauty is, in fact, in the eye of the beholder; therefore, art can be anything. My words are full of vibrant colors and I very seldomly use neutrals. To me, colors that I use express happiness. I’ve suffered mental illness and depression for decades, so when art began making me happy, content, and more peaceful of a person, I realized I had found something I was passionate about. Painting and creating art is the only hobby that I have ever stayed consistent with. Art even taught me patience which I had never had before. This hobby turned into my passion, and will lead into a career with enough practice and patience. Art is my happiness, and I’m glad to finally be able to create it and share with others, while also bringing them happiness.

To find the the gallery in Lowe Mill A&E, click MORE INFO below (Tickets are NOT required.)