Artist Lecture: Nicole Banowetz

Join sculptor and educator Nicole Banowetz to discuss her work and her new installation —on view now—at the Famous Hardware Store in Springdale. Following the lecture, walk to the Famous Hardware Store with us for a sidewalk reception in celebration of the installation.

Banowetz’s sci-fi-esque sewn inflatable sculptures address human qualities and relationships using the imagery she finds in the animal, plant, mineral, and bacterial world. Banowetz believes in the accessibility of the inflatable as its form is reminiscent of those we see in our daily lives, i.e. jumping castles and the whimsical nature of the flailing tube man scene predominantly at car dealerships. The inflatable is familiar, soft, and comforting, giving viewers the security they need to enter a space, immerse themselves, and become curious.  Her work creates a unique combination of the familiar and the strange, allowing viewers to question the world around them.

About the Artist:

Nicole Banowetz is a Colorado-based sculptor and educator. As an avid hiker, Banowetz finds inspiration in landscapes and cultures and is always looking for strange and exciting plants, animals and microscopic life. She has lived and worked in India, Italy, Ireland, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Poland, and England, and shown work in large international exhibitions such as The Amsterdam Light Festival, Bad Art’s Hot Air in London, UK, OpenArt in Örebro, Sweden, and PASSAGES INSOLITES in Quebec City, Canada.  She has taken part in environmental residencies and exhibitions in California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Finland.

Visit the artist’s website to learn more about her work, NicoleBanowetz.com.