Nicole Vandersteegen is a painter whose works derive from her imagination and are inspired by colour and nostalgia. She studied painting at Monash University in Melbourne and has exhibited in group shows across Australia, including as a finalist in the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize 2021 and the Togart Contemporary Art Award 2012 and 2013.
Her work delves into the genre of magical realism: seeking to conjure what is known or familiar, within a surreal or peculiar narrative.
Nicole’s paintings are a culmination of her creative process. Making props and using fabric is a part of her practice she enjoys for its sculptural qualities: using her hands in a different way to painting, problem solving and sewing to create an object that she can then use in a stage set to create drama and focus by the play of light and shadow.
Nostalgic references are often derived from personal experience or memory, a fragment of something that sparks interest and evokes an idea.
Nicole has exhibited in metropolitan and regional art exhibitions in Australia.