Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Hilliard Joyce.
Nancy Hilliard, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born in Greenville, South Carolina and was accepted into the Governor’s School for the Arts in Visual Art at the age of 16. From 2003 – 2006, I served on the Directors Circle at the High Museum of Art, from 2012 – 2017, I served on the Board of Trustees at the Asheville Art Museum and was an active member of the River Arts District Association in Asheville, NC. Today, I primarily work from my home studio in Concord, NC. I am passionate about giving back to children in need and regularly use my art as a platform to raise money for charity and non-profit organizations.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My paintings are generally intricate in form and filled with layers of color, perspective, gestures, and expression. I use mixed-media art created with layers of modeling paste, a range of synthetic polymer paints, various hand-made papers and finish with touches of oil paint. I will sometimes sand or wipe down layers to reveal under-layers and build up other sections to create texture and depth; a process that may go on for weeks or end in one day. I have been excited to see that my work is appreciated and widely collected throughout the United States in many homes, corporate offices, airports, and hotels. I consistently partner with non-profit organizations, with intention of promoting education to young, underprivileged girls in Cambodia.
My subject matter ranges from bicycles, to influential women, to umbrellas, to nature scenes. I take unusual perspectives from these subject matters and transform them into angles and views you normally wouldn’t necessarily see in life.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
Artists today have it both much better and much worse in many ways. It is easier for artists to reach thousands of people at one time with the click of a button but at the same time, it seems that anyone can call themselves an artist these days. We are inundated with talent as well as people dappling in their pursuit of a passion. The trick is to find those artists with talent, passion, and pursuit all wrapped up into one. Although sometimes it is difficult to get to know an artist first-hand, this seems to be the best way to understand their art form.
Cities that have a large art community should call upon artists to unite and work together so it is easier for the collectors to circumnavigate all of their choices. It is incredibly important to fight gentrification when at all possible and for cities to protect the working artist rather than have them relocate and disburse to new and pocketed communities.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can see my work displayed at the Grove Park Inn, located in Asheville, NC. They can also see me all around Greenville, SC. Our family used to live on Pinestream Road and I have many private collectors throughout Atlanta but my studio now resides in Concord, NC. You can support my work by following me on social media accounts as well as purchase work through my website.
Contact Info:
- Address: Studio 858 1/2
(by appointment only)
858 Kings Crossing Dr NW
Concord, NC 28027 - Website: www.NancyJoyceGallery.com
- Phone: 404-313-1246
- Email: nancyhjoyce@gmail.com
- Instagram: @NancyJoyceArt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJoyceArt/
- Twitter: @NancyJoyceArt
Image Credit:
Nancy Hilliard Joyce
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