About Asheville Artist Nicolette Leigh Yates
I’m Nicolette Yates, a 40-something artist, designer, mom, and spouse who adores travel and deep dives into random topics as my interests guide me.
My art allows me to tap into my inner child work which I think is so important for all adults to practice in some way.
Artist Bio
Born in 1981, I spent my first decade in the rural town of Stokesdale, just outside Kernersville, NC. Growing up, I explored the hunting trails and farm fields surrounding the farmhouse we rented, weaving epic narratives in my head about the spirit of the fields and forests and my relationship to what I observed. This early dreaming and exploration profoundly shaped my creative vision and continues to inspire my artwork.
I began my university studies in dance and writing at a Buddhist university in Colorado before returning to North Carolina to earn a BA in sculpture and an almost minor in geology from UNC Asheville.
After college, I explored realistic figurative painting styles for a few years before feeling drawn back to my playful roots and making more intuitive choices in my process. This shift led to a more authentic artistic style in 2018, one that has since developed into a natural, instinctive practice.
Currently, I work in 2D mixed media and live in South Asheville, NC, with my husband and daughter.
Artist Statement
Images come through a visionary process of finding structure in the way ink mixes and spreads on the surface referred to as pareidolia. This tendency has been with me since childhood when I'd stare at wood grain, tree branches, and clouds to find faces and figures to make up stories in my head. The visions I see in the ink with my mind's eye have a surreal style that reflects my playful perspective of the world which has been an outlet for me for much of my life.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2010 B.A. with distinction in art (sculpture), University of North Carolina at Asheville
2010 Undergraduate research scholar, University of North Carolina at Asheville
2002 Naropa University, Boulder, CO.
Grants & Awards
2014 Asheville Area Arts Council Spruce Street Market Scholarship
2009 The Ron Layne Scholarship for Sculpture in Honor of Dan Millspaugh
2009 UNC-Asheville Undergraduate Research Grant
Exhibitions
2024 Radfest 1.0, River Arts District “Soft Opening” (Post Hurricane Helene)
2020-2024 Foundation Studios
2020 Shows: Creative Hub Studios, Foundation Studios, Blue Ghost Brewing, and GIFC Worldwide
2019 Ongoing GIFC / Velvet Ropes, travelling exhibition of unframed works on paper: - 0-0 LA Gallery (Los Angeles, CA); Shrine Gallery (New York, NY); Martha’s Contemporary (Austin, TX); Agnes B Galerie Boutique (Tokyo, JP); Galleri Golsa (Oslo, NO); et al.
2019 UNCA alumni show, Ramsay Library, Blowers Gallery, UNC-Asheville
2019 Sept-Nov Duo Show with Annie Monaghan at Pennycup Coffee, Haw Creek
2019 May solo show, Odd’s Cafe, Asheville, NC
2018 Group show, Taylor Gallery, Asheville, NC
2017 State of the Art/Art of the State group show, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC
2017 Biennial group show, “From These Hills: Contemporary Art in the Southern Appalachian Highlands”, William King Museum of Art, Abingdon VA. Juried by Courtney McNeil of Telfair Museum
2017 Solo show, ”Into the Woods”, Blue Ghost Brewing, Fletcher, NC
2017 Group show, Artomat 20th Anniversary, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC
2017 April, Artfields, Lake CIty, SC
2016 Group juried show, “Sacred and Profane”, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA. Juror:Kim Larson of Modern Eden Gallery
2016 Solo show, "Dream Cluster", Blue Ghost Brewing, Fletcher, NC
2016 Group show, "Kitchen Sink", Delurk Gallery, WInston-Salem, NC
2015 Flood Gallery Pop-Up Show, Asheville NC
2011 Man's Ruin Gallery, Asheville NC
2010 Atelier Gallery, Asheville, NC
2009 Selected Student Exhibition, Highsmith University Gallery, UNCA
2009 42nd Juried Student Exhibition, UNCA, Tucker Cooke Gallery, curated by Peregrine Honig
2008 “It’s a Small, Small Work”, Gallery 86, Waynesville, NC
2008 Drawing Exhibition, Owen Hall Gallery curated by Virginia Derryberry, UNC-Asheville
2003 The Sovereign Gallery, Group Exhibition, Boulder, CO
2001 Rusty LaRue Charity Art Auction, Reynolda House, Winston-Salem NC,
1999 ArtoMat Artist, National
Juried Art Markets
2019 Holiday Big Crafty, U.S. Cellular Center
2019 Summer Big Crafty, Downtown Asheville
2019 Big Love at New Belgium Brewery
2019 March and October, MakeHer Market, Asheville, NC
2018 Hand-to Hand Holiday Market, Greensboro, NC
2016 West Asheville Art Walk, Asheville, NC
2014 Spruce Street Market, Asheville, NC
2014 The Big Crafty, Asheville, NC
2010 Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival, Asheville, NC
Collections
2010 sculptural installation, “The In-Between”, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Whitesides Hall, Asheville, NC
Volunteer Work
2011 Arts for Life Volunteer Art Educator, Mission Children's Hospital, Asheville, NC
2006-2008 Blue Ridge Rollergirls Art Committee Chairperson, Asheville, NC
2002 Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Guest Services, Boulder, CO.
Print or Digital Media
2019, Satisfy your Craving for Creativity Online Summit.
2019, The Art Journey Podcast, Episode 8
Tom Patterson, “Assortment of Art at Delurk”, Winston-Salem Journal, February, 14, 2016.
2014, Erin Huber, “Nicolette Leigh Carter Yates”, Mother Artist Project (blog). http://themotherartistproject.blogspot.com/2014/08/nicolette-leigh-carter-yates.html
Wendy Freeman Davis, “Living Life as an Artist”, Kernersville News, March 3, 2015. 7.
Bootie Cosgrove-Mather, “Art-O-Mat Aims For Collectors”, Associated Press, February 25, 2003.