Nicole Katsuras: Pioneering Abstract Expressionism with a Modern Twist Toronto-based artist Nicole Katsuras has made a name for herself as one of the leading figures in modern expressive abstraction. With a Master of Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, UK, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, Katsuras brings a unique blend of technical skill and conceptual depth to her work. Her paintings, described as both intricate and innovative, are held in numerous prestigious corporate collections, including those of McCarthy Tetrault, Encana, and RBC Capital Investments. Katsuras has also been tapped to design luxury silk and wool rugs for Stark Carpet in New York City, showcasing her versatility and talent across different mediums. Currently, Nicole is working on three solo exhibitions in Vancouver, Arkansas, and Toronto. Her career is marked by a constant evolution of style, marked by deep experimentation with composition, color, and texture. As her work continues to grow in popularity, she is increasingly recognized as a pioneer in the use of oil paint and unconventional tools to create a style that bridges abstraction and materiality. The Evolving Process of an Artist For Nicole Katsuras, painting is a lifelong journey. "My work is always evolving—over the years I can see shifts in my color palette, the fields of color, composition, and texture," she reflects. The artist’s approach involves building as much as painting, layering oil paint onto the canvas with unique mark-making tools to create rich textures. Some areas of her canvases feature layers of extrusions piled up to an inch high, creating a tactile, almost sculptural presence. This meticulous process has earned her international recognition, including an invitation to exhibit in Material Matters at The Courtauld Institute of Art in 2012-2013. The show celebrated artists using pioneering media or reinterpreting traditional forms of representation, a perfect fit for Katsuras' innovative approach. Katsuras describes her process as an ongoing exploration of color, form, and space. In her recent work, she has been particularly inspired by the Japanese art form Ukiyo-e, which translates to “pictures of the floating world.” The concept resonates deeply with her, as her paintings often evoke dreamlike, floating worlds heavily influenced by maps and topography. Her connection to nature and cartography is something that has shaped her work since childhood, drawing inspiration from early memories of flipping through National Geographic magazines and discovering fold-out maps of far-off lands. “Right now, I am really interested in Ukiyo-e. They were masters of color and composition, and I’m always creating dreamlike floating worlds and islands influenced by maps and topography,” she explains. This fascination with nature, geography, and color is evident in the lyrical abstractions that dominate her portfolio today. A Bold and Ever-Changing Palette Katsuras’ work is renowned for its rich color compositions, and her palette is continuously evolving. "Right now, I would say it’s bright and light. I always gravitate towards blues—they have so many personal associations for me and are such a universal color for landscapes no matter where you are in the world," she says. This attention to color allows her paintings to evoke personal emotions and memories in viewers, making her work universally relatable. Her most recent body of work features bold compositional choices and chromatic ideas that continue to evolve from earlier explorations. Katsuras' paintings blur the line between still-life and portraiture, creating figure-ground relationships that invite the viewer to see both objects in space and ethereal worlds open to personal interpretation. The Influence of Toronto on Her Art Living and working in Toronto, Nicole Katsuras draws endless inspiration from the vibrant, dynamic city that surrounds her. “Toronto is such a great dynamic city, on the edge of one of the Great Lakes—Lake Ontario. It’s one of my favorite places to be in the summer,” she shares. The hustle and bustle of the urban environment, combined with the serenity of nearby parks and waterfronts, fuel her creative energy. Katsuras’ work is also deeply influenced by her connection to nature, particularly water. "My relationship to nature and water is ever-present in my paintings," she says. The fluidity and motion of water, combined with the structured yet chaotic energy of urban life, inspire the compositions that dominate her canvases. Whether it’s the urban grid, the city at night, or the vastness of the lake, Katsuras manages to blend these elements into her abstract landscapes in a way that speaks to the universal experience of place. Balancing Life and Art Despite her intense dedication to her craft, Nicole Katsuras maintains a balanced life. Her perfect day? A blend of relaxation and creativity. "One perfect day would be relaxing in the sun by a body of water with my kids—whether it be a pool, lake, ocean, or river. Flipping through a mountain of interior design and art magazines, maybe gardening, and later going off to the studio to paint," she muses. It’s this balance of personal joy and professional fulfillment that fuels her ongoing journey as an artist. Katsuras is also deeply grateful for the support she receives from her family, collectors, and the creatives who help her in the studio. "Painting has brought me personal growth, joy, and satisfaction. To do something that you love makes it all the more special," she says. The Future of Nicole Katsuras As Nicole Katsuras looks ahead to 2024 and beyond, her work continues to evolve in exciting new directions. With upcoming solo exhibitions in multiple cities and a growing list of collectors, her art is poised to reach even wider audiences. Whether through her luminous color palettes, her fascination with maps and topography, or her bold compositions, Katsuras’ paintings invite viewers into a world where abstraction meets reality, and where every brushstroke tells a story. “Painting is filled with so many highlights about my personal life and the world around me,” she shares. And it’s through this deep connection to both her personal experiences and the broader world that Nicole Katsuras continues to shape the future of modern abstraction, one breathtaking painting at a time. CURRICULUM VITAE EDUCATIONMaster of Fine Art/ Central Saint Martins School of Art & Design/ London, United KingdomHonours Bachelor of Arts Degree/ University of Toronto/ Toronto, Canada AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPSMary Coyne Rowell Jackman Post Graduate Award SELECTED COLLECTIONSLuciano BenettonCanaccord Wealth ManagementCarlton UniversityThe Donovan CollectionEncanaEquitable TrustFairbourneHolt RenfrewThe KegMcCarthy TetraultMirvish CollectionRBC Capital InvestmentsSection Eight/Itch ProductionsWALKER WEST LONGOPrivate collections from Vancouver to Toronto and from New York to ISTANBUL UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS 2020 Process and image (SOLO)/ march 7 - 21 / Bau-Xi Gallery/ Toronto2020 Art Auction/ Art Gems/ Aril 21/ Toronto2020 Gilda’s GNOME GARDEN / CANADA BLOOMS / March 13-222020 Contemporary Art Auction/ April 25 - 30, 2020 / Waddington’s / Toronto2021 New York (solo) TBA SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS / ART FAIRS 2020 Modern Masters-Private collection/ 13th Street Winery/Niagara, Ontario2019 Art Toronto/ Art Fair/ BAU-XI Gallery/ Toronto2019 Method II/ Bau-Xi Gallery/ Toronto2019 IN ASCEND/ Curated by Rafi Ghanaghounian/ Samara Contemporary/ Toronto2018 OUT OF THE BUSH GARDEN/ ONSITE GALLERY/ TORONTO2017 OUT OF THE BUSH GARDEN/ Fondazione Giorgio Cini/ Venice2013 December GROUP SHOW/ Corkin Gallery/ Toronto2013 Art Toronto/ Art Fair/ Corkin GALLERY/ Toronto2013 The Ghosts of WILLIAM RONALD/ MOORE GALLERY/ TORONTO2013 WINTER EXHIBITION/ Moore Gallery/ Toronto2013 THE WHITE SHOW/ BAU XI Gallery/ VANCOUVER2012 ART TORONTO/ ART FAIR/ MOORE GALLERY/ TORONTO2012 ART TORONTO/ ART FAIR/ BAU XI VANCOUVER/ TORONTO2012 FRESH FACES/ NEWZONES/ CALGARY2012 SUMMER EXHIBITION/ BAU-XI Gallery/ VANCOUVER2012 SUMMER EXHIBITION/ MOORE GALLERY/ TORONTO2012 WINTER/ MOORE GALLERY/ TORONTO2012 WHEN NIGHT FALLS/ BAU-XI Gallery/ VANCOUVER2011 HIGHLY DESIRABLE/ NEUBACHER SHOR CONTEMPORARY/ Toronto2011 art toronto/ art fair/ moore gallery/ toronto2011 art toronto/ art fair/ bau-xi gallery/ toronto2011 Number 10 show/ w2 Storyeum/ vancouver2011 winter exhibition/ moore gallery/ toronto2010 art toronto/ art fair/ moore gallery/ toronto2010 number 9 show/ w2 Storyeum/ vancouver2010 summer group show/ Moore gallery/ toronto2010 winter group show/ Moore gallery/ toronto2009 winter group show/ moore gallery/ toronto2008 Queen West Art Crawl/ Toronto2008 Artscape/ The Gladstone hotel/ Toronto2008 Liberty Market Loft Artists/ liberty/ Toronto2008 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition/ Toronto2007 Fifteen/ The Gladstone Hotel/ Toronto2007 Queen west art crawl/ toronto2007 Outdoor Art Exhibition/ Toronto2006 Studio Tour & Sale/ 96 spadina/ Toronto2006 The Body/ Khiasma Gallerie/ Paris2006 MFA Graduate Show/ Concourse, London2006 Landmarks/ Lethaby Gallery/ London2006 new Exhibition/ Nolia’s Gallery/ London2006 Sub. Situ 01/ Mashed Potato Gallery/ Deptford/ UK2006 Where Are You Now?/ 12 Box Gallery/ Seoul2006 8 New Names/ Gallery 102:The Tea Building/ London2005 Mid-term Exhibition/ Concourse Gallery/ London2005 Square Foot Show/ AWOL Gallery/ Toronto2005 Panorama/ Spin Gallery/ Toronto2005 Hart House Art Competition/ J.M. Barnicke Art Gallery/ Toronto SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2020 March 7 - 21/ Process and Image/ Bau-XI Gallery/ Toronto2019-2020 December 2 - February 15 /Tilt + Pull/ arkansas state university- Mountain Home/ Arkansas2019 November 9-23/ Painter’s Paradise/ Bau-Xi Gallery/ Vancouver2015 PARADE/ Track and Field Gallery/ Toronto2013 CHROMA NATIONAL/ Corkin Gallery/ Toronto2013 COLOUR IN SPACE/ Moore Gallery/ Toronto2012 SKY WRITING / Bau-Xi Gallery/ Vancouver2011 MEGATHERIUM/ Moore Gallery/ Toronto2011 THE ALGONQUIN REPORt/ Bau-Xi gallery/ Vancouver2010 FURIOUS FROLICS/ Moore Gallery/ Toronto2010 LITTLE ROAR/ Moore Gallery/ Toronto2009 NEW WORKS/ 13th Street/ Niagara2009 SUNSHOWERS/ Moore Gallery/ Toronto2008 RED STAYS BRIGHT/ 968 Queen/ Toronto2007 BLOOMING HIDE/ Spin Gallery/ Toronto SELECTED AUCTIONS / VISITING ARTIST CRITIQUES 2020 ART GEMS2020 Gilda’s Gnome Garden2019 Teddy Bear Affair2019 YWCA2019 Art Gems2018 ART GEMS2018 YWCA2017 ART GEMS2017 NYoTA 2016 art gems2016 Waddington’s Contemporary canadian art auction2016 NYOTA2016 TEDDY BEAR AFFAIR2015 Waterkeeper2015 Art Gems2015 TEDDY BEAR AFFAIR2015 Nyota2015 Varley Art Gallery2014 ART GEMS 2014 waterkeepers 2014 nyota2014 TEDDY BEAR AFFAIR 2013 ART GEMS2013 Visiting Artist/ critiques for the Undergraduate Painting/ University of Toronto2013 Waddington’s Contemporary canadian art auction2013 Waterkeepers 2013 AFYC2013 Visiting Artist/ critiques for the Undergraduate Painting/ University of Toronto 2012 ART GEMS2012 visiting artist/ critiques for the undergraduate painting/ university of toronto2011 ART GEMS2011 visiting artist/ critiques for the undergraduate painting/ university of toronto2010 ART GEMS2010 Varley ART Gallery2010 visiting artist/critiques for the undergraduate painting/ university of toronto2009 ART GEMS2008 ART GEMS2008 Art Gallery of Hamilton PRESS, TEXT AND MEDIA 2020 Painting Modernity/ The Sound/ March 5/ Bart Gazzola2016 The happiness equation: want nothing + do anything = have everything by Neil Pasricha2013 Global Morning television programme for preview of Art Toronto2013 September Issue of Zoomer Magazine2013 Mention on blog Oh by the Way2011 Online Artist Feature, Vancouver is Awesome2011 Artist mention on The File2011 Online Artist Feature: No. 10 Group Exhibition, Vancouver2011 Lecture: Emily Carr and Her Daughters by Joan Murray at John M. Parrott Art Gallery2010 Now Toronto’s Daily Slide Show of This Week’s Must-See Art Shows By Fran Schechter2010 Bits Magazine2010 Here and Now Interview/ OMNI TV2010 Art Sync TV2010 The Donovan Collection Book2010 Here and Now/ OMNI TV2010 www.SNAPdowntowntoronto.com2010 online/ Merge:Rising Stars Glow in the Show/ She Does the City2010 The Beat: Arts in London2009 Art/ Toronto Life magazine/ April2009 Liberty Gleaner/ March/April2007 here and now interview/ OMNI TV2006 Student Shows/ Time Out London/ September2006 Assist in Interviews for future Central Saint Martins candidates for MFA 07/ London