Nicole Chesney

Nicole Chesney (born 1971, in Cinnaminson, New Jersey) is an American contemporary artist. She is best known for her mirrored glass paintings and large-scale architectural pieces.

Early life Nicole Chesney was born and raised in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, in 1971. She studied metalsmithing at the California College of Arts and Crafts from 1992 until 1994. While there she began using glass in her work. In 1997, she graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Glass, and earned a Master of Arts, Visual Arts, from the Canberra School of Art at the Australian National University in 2000.

Career After graduation, Chesney was a visiting artist at both the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the Corning Museum of Glass. In 2003, she moved to Providence, Rhode Island, to establish a studio. Eventually, after working in several spaces, she settled in Sky/Water Studio at Hope Artiste Village. Chesney has participated in a number of group and solo exhibitions. She has also received several honors and awards, including the David Thomas Foundation Grant, 1998; the Canberra School of Art Graduate Award, 1998, 1999, and Drawing Prize, 1999; the Jutta Cuny-Franz Foundation Award, 2001; the UrbanGlass New Talent Award, 2004; and the Rakow Commission, 2005. Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, and the Palm Springs Art Museum. She observes how the piece changes based on the time of day and type of light. She considers her audience when making a piece, and views them not only as spectators but also participants in the work. She referred to the books Water and Dreams and The Right to Dream - both written by Bachelard - while working on her "Sky/Water" series. Wheeler Table, Wheeler School, Providence, Rhode Island, 2013 Welkin, Wheeler School, Providence, Rhode Island, 2009 Present, 2005 Rakow Commission, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York, 2005