ABOUT NICOLE
“Art Making is very cyclical. You have to read everything you can get your hands on, go to museums, watch movies, listen to music, take photos and travel. These things need to percolate in your bones before it comes out in your art.”
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. Nicole’s graphic design background lends itself to her creative surface pattern designs and offers licensing of her work.
Nicole graduated with a BFA in book arts and 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, and Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association. Nicole holds a position on the Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association Board as Chief Social Media Officer and Creator.
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 ineffable 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.
Nicole graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 1994 with a BFA in Printmaking and BookArts.
GALLERIES & SHOPS WHO CARRY MY WORK:
Nicole’s Resume
Follow my journey….Download my resume below
