Today we’d like to introduce you to Nic Noblique.
Hi Nic, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to Texas in 2001 and really started to focus on welding and making sculptures. I’ve always loved art, as long as my memory can recall. There was an old wind-up stick welder on my family’s property, so I picked that up and started building small sculptures with scraps of steel. Initially, I went to local markets and realized people really liked what I was doing, and I was selling out! That is the humble beginning of Noblique Studios and my career as an artist.
Eventually, I could afford to travel around to various art fairs, make bigger sculptures, and buy better equipment and materials. Little by little, my studio grew, and my ability to create the things I saw in my head became a reality. I never stopped pushing, putting myself out there, and going for it. I wanted to be successful in doing the thing I love most: creating. I don’t believe there is a ceiling to that either; as an artist, you spend your life pushing yourself, selling what is a really personal part of yourself, and growing and evolving as well. That is the journey, and I am here for it!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, haha, it’s not a smooth road at all and still is not and most likely will never be! I’m okay with that. This will be my 23rd year as a full-time professional artist, and so far, nothing has deterred me. Money is always a barrier, and, for an artist, this can mean access to a competition or an art show. It can mean, do I get the paint and canvas I need to have work to show my galleries and clients? You know, I’d say the biggest struggle is producing enough work for an exhibition at your own expense and gambling on its outcome. There is no shortage of obstacles in this life as an artist; that’s probably the only thing you can be certain of! The road is long and sometimes defeating, but slowly, surely, with a lot of will and resilience, it’s possible to follow your dream and realize it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a painter and sculptor but most well known for my sculpture work. I create in steel and stainless steel and specialize in large and monumental public and private work. My sculpture is abstract, organic forms often incorporating kind of wild rolled ribbons of steel as well as an exploration in fabricating boxed-in convex and concave shapes. I am always challenging what is possible with steel. I like to use color in my work, but I also love the raw and natural beauty of steel patinas and polished stainless steel.
I am really proud of the monumental sculpture called “Inspiration,” located in St. Paul, Texas, near Lake Lavon. It is a 50-foot-tall abstract, a helical form that is almost 30 feet wide at the base of the tripod structure.
Most recently, I have been working on a collaboration with artist Jeff ‘Skele’ Sheely, where we combine talents to create work that is both my sculpture and paintings that he takes his spin on and vice versa. We have a show opening in Dallas, Deep Ellum, at Kettle Art Gallery on April 13th at 6 pm.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I try to focus on today and sometimes tomorrow, but to stay creative, I tend not to dive into what the future looks like too much. I believe the gallery model will see the biggest changes in how and where artists can show their work and gain exposure to new audiences might look a lot different. As for myself, in 5-10 years? Sipping pina coladas on a beach in Mexico if I’m lucky!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nobliquestudios.com
- Instagram: @noblique
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nicnobliqueartist
Image Credits
Audra Lee Noblique
