Keep Contemporary presents

Nicole Merkens -Where The Veil Thins

Keep Contemporary proudly presents:

Nicole Merkens -Where The Veil Thins

Opening Reception This Friday October 23rd 5-8 pm

Food – Drinks – Music – Culture – Community

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Artist Biography:

Santa Fe based sculptor and designer, Nicole Merkens, is a figurative clay hand builder who intertwines her love of metals and found objects into her mystic themed work. Since the twilight of the 1990s, spirit animals have danced like whispered legends through Nicole’s work, with the rabbit; ancient symbol of intuition, rebirth, and lunar mystery appearing again and again. Perhaps it is no coincidence that she was born on Easter, the day when the veil is thin and life triumphs over death. The rabbit, in many mythic traditions, is a messenger between realms, burrower of secrets, keeper of thresholds, and in Nicole’s hands, it returns as both guardian and guide, echoing soul truths from the liminal spaces she so often channels.

With roots in the world of graphic design, Nicole carries the gift of visual spellcraft; weaving intricate surface patterns and symbolic motifs that feel both ancient and newly born. Her creations are now offered for licensing, allowing others to carry her imagery like talismans into their own realms. She is presently conjuring a series of Oracle and Tarot decks, each card a portal of archetypal wisdom, alongside print-on-demand offerings that transform everyday objects into enchanted artifacts touched by her vision.

Nicole graduated with a BFA in book arts & printmaking from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pa and has been honing her skills ever since. She ran a highly successful graphic design and web business for 20+ years.

Nicole’s evolution into ceramics has come about through her passion for using her hands and tooling material with marks and symbols to reveal the magic and wonder of the human soul.

Nicole founded “Cowgirl Studios” in 2012 with three colleagues and ran a successful gallery and studio complete with workshops, exhibitions and camps until 2019 in Roswell, Ga. She now makes art and reads tarot cards in her studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Nicole currently shows her work in New Mexico, Georgia, and Florida galleries. She teaches mixed media courses and exhibits regularly in international and national exhibitions. She is a member of the New Mexico Potters and Clay Artists, The New Mexico Women in the Arts, Las Damas of New Mexico, and Eldorado

Artist Statement:

For as long as I can remember, I have never been alone.
I have heard them,
I have seen them,
I have felt them in my dreams.
My work is a testament to the presence of spiritual guardians, the cycles of rebirth, and the
boundless energy of the soul. It is a sacred dialogue between the seen and unseen, weaving
together metaphysical wisdom and Catholic iconography to illuminate my spiritual path.
Too deep and indescribable for mere words, my journey finds expression through creation.
Through mixed media, I summon symbols, colors, and forms, each chosen with intention,
each carrying a resonance beyond the material. Their interplay reveals the essence of
being: fragments of divinity coming together in harmony.
I believe I am guided by a higher consciousness, moved by a force beyond myself. A sacred
fire compels me forward, shaping my visions.
My work is born from the depths of my soul, where past and future entwine, seeking
balance, seeking truth.
Walk this path with me.

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