Info — Nieko McDaniel

BIOGRAPHY:

Growing up in Southern California, Nieko McDaniel (b.1995) was influenced by Graffiti, Rap, and the desire for an urban lifestyle. McDaniel makes work about Identity & World-Building which is under the umbrella of Escapism and is seen in the type of entertainment the generation (the Millennials) he grew up part of prefer. Examples he gives are the genres of literature, music, movies, television, and games they consume. McDaniel believes reality is something we try to escape through simulation and invention. He comments on this idea by using materials that have an inherent history and function but re-purposes them to fit his vision.

Currently, McDaniel is working as a Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Painting & Drawing at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.

*Use the “contact” feature below to get in touch with Nieko and to request images of his newest and unpublished works.

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Instagram: @niekosart

Superfluous Container
This artwork is about being an empty shell of a person. Compared to my other works, there is no imagery or cardboard woven into the grid which is a reference to emptiness. The mirror is there to force you to reflect and questi

Pane-Full Ruins 5
This series is influenced by the noir comic book style of illustration and color. Incorporating my research of world-building, I use the material’s inherent nature and characteristics and mold it to my intentions to express

Remembering Where you Come From
Part of my “Yarn Bombings” series this work was to ground me and remind me of my beginnings. That being what got me into art (graffiti) and the materials I started making what I consider major works with

Handshake
One of the first I made during residency. It is a marker of my relationship with the residency as time goes by. In the beginning the yarn is vibrant and full of color but as the residency got closer to ending the yarn dulls in color. Th

3-D Puzzle
A throwback to a study. In this work I was practicing perspective, form, and color. I aimed to create the form with color shifting from lights to cools.
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#art #fineart #studioart #wallart #painting #puzzle #pieces #puzzlepieces #

Totem Deity Staff
My ongoing series of totem carvings and casts reference all types of gods, deities, beings, and things worshiped around the world. The goal of the series is to show the importance people place on their personal belief systems and

My Decaying Mind
A throwback to my first art series “Forever Continuously Infinite.” These 3 brains were a representative of my mind decaying through the stress put on myself to achieve perfection. This is represented in the change of c

Is Block Head Your Friend?
From my “Forever A Child” series in this artwork I create a remake of an assignment that my childhood bully made about me which was a “wonderful” short story about me. Please read.
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#art #fin

Blueprint 9
The “Blueprints” are a mini-series in of small individual pieces that were to inform a future larger piece. The “Blueprints” series aims to create an environment and dimensions through the layers I create from ad

A Common King
“A Common King” is a personal commentary on America’s social, political, and religious realm. Though I was raised religious and do have political standpoints, my goal is to make the viewer realize that the systems tha

Wall Weaving Capitalism
Another work in my weaving lab series, in this piece I comment on the system of Capitalism through the materials and logos that I weave into the metal grid. This was made when I was living in the nations capital through a ti

More Bananas Please
Another artwork in my “Yarn Bombing series, this works moniker is created completely with yarn glued on cardboard. The cardboard is exposed in certain areas to display different textures.
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#art #artist #artistoninst

Pane-Full Ruins 6
One of my pieces in the “Pane-Full Ruins” series, this artwork continues the discussion of repurposing items and environments for inhabitance which is a sub category within world-building.
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#art #fineart #studi

You’ve Been Naughty
Part of my “Forever a Child” series, this piece speaks on a memory I have from childhood. One day as a kid I was being naughty during the summer and my Mom threatened to call Santa Claus. I continued to act up,

Functional Imbalance
“Functional Imbalance” talks about my endeavors to balance offers and opportunities in my life from continuing my education with Ph.D. offers, residency offers, being a professor, making art, and having a personal li

“Smile”
“Smile” is about multiple conversations of posing for a photo. One being that on our own terms we are more than willing and happy to pose for selfies or group photos. Two being that we hate to pose for photographs that

An Addictive Personality (6 pack or six-pack)
“An Addictive Personality (6 pack or six-pack)” is negative self-portrait of myself that others may relate to as well. This piece has to do with the addiction of being self-conscious of the

“Slip Space”
“Slip Space” is integrated into the stairwell of a break room where employees get rest from the difficult manual labor. I created this artwork so that it may serve as a symbol of rest as employees make their way

“Perfect Symetrical Attraction”
Yes, the word “symmetrical” is purposely spelled incorrectly in the title. The second piece in my “Forever Continuously Infinite Series,” this works speaks specifically on my strugg

“Where you goin” (Geometrix Set)
When this work is displayed it can be standing up-right posing as a drum or it can be a sculpture laying down that can roll and show its different gradients of greens. This work and the others of this s

Curriculum Vitae

Residencies:

2023
The Chrysalis Institute for Emerging Artist Residency Kalamazoo, MI (March-May)

2021
A to Z Wineworks Artist in Residency & Internship, Newberg, OR (August 2021 - July 2022)
The Crow’s Nest Artist Residency, Marshall, NC (July)

Permanent Collections:

Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
A to Z Wineworks, Newberg, OR
American University Photo Collective, Washington, D.C.

Solo Exhibitions:

2024
What’s Around, Found, & Scrounged, The Hiram Van Gordon Gallery at Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
Patience… & However Possible, The Sechrest Gallery at High Point University, High Point, NC

2022
Browns, Purples, & Greys; Chehalem Cultural Center, Newberg, OR

2019
Growing Unhindered Production, Tri-Chromatic Gallery in Modesto, CA

Group Exhibitions:

2024
Hollywood Land, Not Real Art, Los Angeles, CA

2023
Benefit Art Auction, McColl Center, Charlotte, NC
Window Exhibition, Gallery GoGo, Portland, OR
Shapes & Colors, Biafarin Arts Management, Online, Toronto, Canada, International Call (March)
A Fighting Chance, The Bridge Gallery, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, NC (February)

2022
Emptiness-2022, Gallerium, Online, Toronto, Canada, International Call
Practice What You Teach, The Bridge Gallery, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, NC
Small Works Show, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY, National Call
Artists Who Teach, Fayetteville State University/Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery, Fayetteville, NC, National Call
Breathing Room, 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC, 4 Select Artists

2021
Small Works Show, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY, National Call
Children-2021, Gallerium, Online, Toronto, Canada, International Call
Penumbra, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Department of Art & Design Faculty Show, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, NC
Art Against Racism: Memorial. Movement, Movement Virtual Exhibition, Art Against Racism Galleries, New Jersey
Milked, Katzen Museum, Washington, DC
Elevate, Webster Arts, Webster Groves, MO

2020
Small Works Show, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
The Interiors That Make Us, Virtual Project Curated Exhibition
Penumbra, Online Exhibition
Actual Dilemma, MFA Graduating Online Thesis Exhibition, Washington, D.C.
Behind the Scenes: Preparators and Their Art, Katzen Museum, Washington, D.C.
Phenomena of Identity, Katzen Arts Center, Washington, D.C.

2019
Small Works Show, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
Crit Space Show, American University, Washington, D.C.
Penumbra, CSU Stanislaus University Art Gallery, Turlock, CA
Peripheral Visions, Katzen Museum, Washington, D.C.
Spring Showcase, Songbyrd Music House, Washington, D.C.
Center for Diversity and Inclusivity, American University, Washington, D.C.
Soulful: A National Exhibition of African American Artist, D’ Art Center, Norfolk, VA *Accepted
Regular Style, Montana State University Show, University of Montana, Missoula, MT

2018
Breakthrough, AU Photo Collective Show, Washington, D.C.
MFA Expo Exhibition, American University, Washington, D.C.
Rising Artists, Chartreuse Muse, Modesto, CA
Senior Graduate Show, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Sculpture Show, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Stan State Film Festival, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Penumbra, Turlock, CA
Social Justice Conference Show, Turlock & Modesto, CA
Sculpture Show, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA

2017
The Unpresentable: Art & Sexual Violence, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Penumbra, Turlock, CA

2016
Collecting The Echoes, Modesto Theater, Center Stage Conservatory, Modesto, CA
Our Lives Matter: A Protest Against Rape and Other Violence, Turlock, CA
Sculpture Show, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Juried Exhibition, Cal State Stanislaus, Turlock, CA

2015
Juried Exhibition, Cal State Stanislaus, Turlock, CA

Community Projects:

2022
Community Inclusive Abstract Mural through the Service Learning Grant, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, NC

Art Exhibitions Curated:

2019
Crit Space Show, American University, Washington, D.C.

2018
Open Studios MFA Expo Exhibition, American University, Washington, D.C.

2017
The Unpresentable: Art & Sexual Violence

2016
Our Lives Matter: A Protest Against Rape and Other Violence

Artists Talks:

2024:

Tennessee, State University, Nashville, TN

2023
Gallery GO GO, Portland, OR
The Waystation Podcast, Kalamazoo, WI

2022
A to Z Wineworks, Newberg, OR
Linfield University, McMinville, OR

2020
Visiting Artist, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, NC
The Interiors that Make Us, Virtual Interview with Andrew Cain
Special Guest Speaker of Art, Penumbra, CSU Stanislaus
Introduction to Painting, Zoe Charlton, American University, Washington, D.C.

2019
Visiting Artist, Full Circle Montessori, Arlington, VA

Publications

2023
Canvas Rebel

2022
EcoTheo Review

2021
The Book of Arts: Children
Penumbra

2020
Penumbra

2019
Round Table Literary Journal
Penumbra
Montana Mouthful Issue 4: Clowning Around

2018
Penumbra

2017
Penumbra
The Unpresentable: Art & Sexual Violence, Take Back the Night

2016
Our Lives Matter: A Protest Against Rape and Other Violence, Take Back the Night

Press:

2024
Nieko McDaniel Walks a Fine Line Between Accessible and Experimental Art (Interview), by Not Real Art

2023
Stories & Insights, Meet Nieko McDaniel by Canvas Rebel

2022
Salisbury Community invited to participate in creating an abstract mural with class from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, by David Whisenant at WBTV, Salisbury, NC
Artist in Residence Announcement by A to Z Wineworks, Newberg OR

2021
Inertia: Milked, American University 2020 Cohort, Published Interview by Inertia Studio Visits

2020
Center for Diversity and Inclusivity, Published Interview by Raheem Dawodu Jr.
Artist Nieko McDaniel, Short Video Documentary by Simin Ma

Awards and Honors:

2023
EXL (Experiential Learning) Grant, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN

2022
Service-Learning Grant, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, NC

2020
Ravenal Travel Award, American University, Washington, D.C.
Elizabeth L. Van Swinderen Prize, American University, Washington, D.C.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grant, American University, Washington, D.C.
College of Art & Sciences Graduate Student Research Grant, American University, Washington, D.C.

2019
Honorable Mention Award, Small Works Show, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
College of Art & Sciences Graduate Student Research Grant, American University, Washington, D.C.
Helene M. Herzbrun Art Scholarship, American University, Washington, D.C.
Serge Sacknoff Memorial Sculpture Fund Scholarship, American University, Washington, D.C.

2018
Student Engagement in Research Scholarship Mini-Grant, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA

2017
Student Engagement in Research Scholarship, and Creative Activity Mini-Grant, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Bill Ringgenberg Scholarship, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Bachelor of Fine Arts Project Grant, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA

2016
Bill Ringgenberg Scholarship, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Student Engagement in Research Scholarship, and Creative Activity Mini-Grant, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Bachelor of Fine Arts Project Grant, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA

2015
Amy Rose Haessly Scholarship, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Student Engagement in Research Scholarship, and Creative Activity Mini-Grant, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Bachelor of Fine Arts Project Grant, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA

Teaching Experience:
James Madison University (August 2024- Current), Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Painting & Drawing, Full-TIme
Middle Tennessee State University (August 2023-May 024), Lecturer of Art & Design, Full-Time
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (August 2022-May 2023), Instructor of Art & Design, Full-Time
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (August 2020-July 2022,) Adjunct Art Instructor, Part-Time
Palo Verde College (August 2020-June 2022), Adjunct Art Instructor, Part-Time
American University (August 2018-May 2020), Teaching Assistant, Part-Time

Organizations:

2020
North Carolina Community College Association of Fine Arts

2017-18
Mayor of Turlock Mural Committee

Education:

2020
Masters of Fine Arts - Interdisciplinary Studio Art, American University, Washington, D.C.
Greenberg Seminars Certificate of Effective Teaching at the College Level, American University (2018-2020)

2018
Bachelors of Fine Arts - Mixed-Emphasis, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
*Magna Cum Laude