Hi! I’m Nicole, I live for vibrancy and for the savoring of life.

My childhood babysitter introduced me to art and cats, forming the two major pillars of my personality. I’m a light-hearted, hard-working creative professional. One of my favorite joys is sharing collective creative energy.

I seek it out everywhere, in a classroom or a boardroom, in community organizing, an art studio, around a fire, in a circle of musicians, or around a big table with friends and good food. Connection is, to me, why we’re here.

I am a graduate of the Creative and Performing Arts program in my hometown public school district, class of 2005 at Auburn High School. Spent part of my post-secondary academic journey at Mills College in Oakland, CA, and at Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL. I completed my Bachelors of Arts degree from University of IL Springfield in Psychology in 2012, graduating with magna cum laude, and with minor concentrations in Women & Gender Studies and Visual Arts.

I spent 2 years as a Resident Artist with the 317 Art Collaborative in Rockford, IL, after stints in academic research, substitute teaching, and various freelance work. My time with 317 helped me find my voice artistically, personally, and professionally; honing the business acumen to support my artistic endeavors.

Now, I make art for my passion and for myself again. Being able to shift away from relying on my art for income has been a healing journey in its own right. In May 2021 I had an extraordinary opportunity to participate in a Healing Arts Retreat with artist and therapist, Jessica Young, in Sedona, AZ. The most impactful lesson I took away from this experience was that I am the one I had been waiting for permission from, there is no one else who can give that permission. I took that lesson as a sign to trust my passion, trust my skills, trust that what I have to offer has great worth and can help others. So that’s where I put my energy now, into allowing myself to find and be genuinely me, and to share my gifts with the people in my community.