Bio

Nick Rivers (United States, 1983) was born to a struggling single mother in Minneapolis. He struggled with substance abuse until the age of 22 when he found long-term recovery. Art became a refuge and a lens to unpack the world around him and a way to see himself. He is a sculptor, painter, and performance artist. Over the last 6 years he completed an A.A.S. in Manufacturing and Engineering, a B.L.A in Culture and Film Studies and recently his M.F.A. from MCAD. Rivers resides on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis with his wife Brooke and their newborn daughter.He is an interdisciplinary artist and designer whose practice revolves around inter-connectedness and relationships of people places and things with one another. The following resume is a summary of his exhibition records, education, and work. 

N I C H O L A S   R I V E R S   

//  2500 University Ave #A3, Saint Paul, MN   // nick@opalds.com // (651) 726-4204 //

www.opalds.com  //  www.instagram.com/nicholasseanrivers/

Education

2016    MFA in Visual Studies, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN.             

2013    BLA in Culture, Film, and Art, Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul, MN.

2009 AAS in Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Sciences, Hennepin Technical College, Minneapolis, MN.

Work Experience

2012-Present              OPAL.D.S    /  Artist, Designer, Builder, Remodeler. 

2013-Present              Independent Landscape Designer.

2011-2013                   3D Printing Production Manager and Designer, In’Tech Industries Inc.

2005-2011                   Model Maker, 3D Printing Specialist, Nuhill Technologies

1999-2002                  Apprentice Glass Blower : Dick Huss Glass Studio : 1999 - 2002

Awards/Grants/Fellowships

2016                 Juror’s Choice 3rd Place. Art On the Plains XII. Plains Art Museum

2014-2016       MFA Trustees Scholarship and Opportunity Grant, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN

2014-2016        Graduate Technical Assistantship, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN

2014                 Juror's Choice Award for Metro State Student Salon, Gordon Parks Gallery. St. Paul, MN.

2011                  Leaders’ Scholarship for specialized training, YPR, NYRF, National Organization

Selected Exhibitions

2016 Open Door, Rosalux Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.

2016 Many Ways To See / Many Ways To Be,  MadeHere.org, Hennepin Theatre Trust, Minneapolis, MN.

2016 MCAD MFA Thesis Exhibition,  MCAD MFA Building, Minneapolis, MN.

2016 Five Day Fast [My Theses on Art], MCAD, Mia, and Children's Theatre Lawn, Minneapolis, MN. 

2016 Body and Machine, Make it Move, Minneapolis, MN.

2016 Made@MCAD, MCAD Main Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.

2016 Open Studio Night, MCAD MFA Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.

2016  Art On The Plains XII, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND.

2015 Gossamer Thread, 410 Project Gallery, Mankato, MN.*

2015 Art-A-Whirl, California Building, Minneapolis, MN.

2015 Because We Can, The Matchbox, Minneapolis, MN. *

2015 Something To Hold Onto Until The Wind Carries Us Away, MCAD Sculpture Garden, Minneapolis, MN.

2015 Something To Hold Onto Until The Wind Carries Us Away, Northern Spark 2015, Minneapolis, MN.

2015 Body and Machine, Northrup King Building, Minneapolis, MN.

2014 MCAD Art Sale, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN.

2014 Open Studio Night, Whittier Studios, Minneapolis, MN.

2014 All Hallows Eve, Whittier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.

2014 Chrysalis Stage, Whittier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.

2014 Art-A-Whirl, Northeast Minneapolis.

2014 Metro State Student Salon, Gordon Parks Gallery. St. Paul, MN.

2014 Knot What it Seams, Altered Aesthetics. Minneapolis, MN

2013 Name Your Price. Studio 512, California Building. Minneapolis, MN.*

2013 Number 23. Cause Gallery. Minneapolis, MN.

2013 Art-A-Whirl. California Building. Minneapolis, MN.

Professional Associations and Services

Present-2012 NEMAA / Northeast Minneapolis Artists' Association

Present-2012 Springboard For the Arts : Saint Paul, MN

Present-2013 Casket Cinema : Minneapolis, MN

Founding Member of Young People In Recovery National Non-Profit.

2006-2008 City of Columbia Heights Charter Commission Member

2005-2009 SPNN / Saint Paul Neighborhood Network . Public Access Television.  Saint Paul, MN

2001-2004 The Loft Book Arts. Minneapolis, MN.

Teaching Experience

2016  Summer Workshop. The Contemporary Art Town Crash Course. For High School Students interested in becoming professionals in the art in the art industries.  MCAD. Mpls, MN.

2015  Visiting Artist Lecturer. Drawing and Painting I. Shannon Estlund's Class. MCAD. Mpls, MN

2015  Visiting Artist Lecturer. 3D Foundations Sculpture. Kate Casanova's Class. University of MN. Mpls, MN

2015  Gallery Artists' Talk. 410 Project with students from Mankato State University. Mankato, MN

Studio/Shop Experience

2016 - Present. Tenant, Midway Commercial Building. Owner / Manager of a 1500 sq ft multi-use studio. 

2016 Shop Technician. Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN.

2014-2016 Whittier Gallery and Studio Monitor, Minneapolis, MN

2014    Designer and Fabricator, Ro-Lu Studio, Minneapolis, MN

2015-2012 Tenant, California Building, Minneapolis, MN

Curating Experience

2014    OSN4 - Co-chair, MFA Open Studios Exhibition, Whittier Studios, Minneapolis, MN

2014    All Hallow’s Eve - Installation lead, Whittier Studios, Minneapolis, MN

Publication and Reviews

2016 June Issue of NoArtistsJustCritics. 

2016 Five Day Fast [My Theses On Art],  Story / Interview by Katie Kauffman. Accessed 5.4.2016. https://mcad.edu/features/5-day-fast-performance-nicholas-rivers

2016  Gossamer Thread. Review. Accessed 11.1.2015.   http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/lifestyles/gossamer-thread-comes-to-mankato/article_04a348fc-8a24-11e5-9c83-9bd2c842ebeb.html

2016 Lets Talk About the Universal (White/Male) Artist. by Andrea Carlson. Accessed July 2016. http://www.mnartists.org/article/lets-talk-about-universal-white-male-artist

References

Diane Mullin   Senior Curator, Weismen Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN.
Jay Coogan     President, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, Mn.