Nicholas Kriefall

A native to the Midwest, I have always been drawn to nature, be it the sea that stemmed from childhood trips to the coast and a young introduction to snorkeling, or the rock formations out west during summer excursions. Along with learning about Hemingway through my father, his tale of an old man battling elements beyond him, and the fact that we know more about foreign worlds than our own, the encompassing truth and mystery of our planet's identity has ever fascinated me.

My current collection deals with the relationship between us and the key elements of nature, whether hostile or dependent, and the delicate balance of how we coincide with each other. Using colors, shapes, and texture over multiple layers, I explore the comfort and animosity of a place revisited or newly imagined, continuously experimenting with visual depth, and incorporating a certain emotion as a map spills from mind to the canvas.

2009 - Bachelor of Fine Arts - University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO

2022 - Talent Prize Award in Water II, International Art Competition
2022 - Silver Award in Bold Abstracts International Painting Competition
2022 - Bronze Award in Bold Abstracts International Painting Competition
2022 - Talent Prize Award in Abstract V, International Art Competition
2021 - 3rd Place Abstract in BoldBrush October Painting Competition
2021 - Silver Award in Open Theme International Painting Competition
2021 - Finalist in BoldBrush September Painting Competition
2021 - Silver Award in All Abstracts International Painting Competition
2021 - Bronze Award in All Abstracts International Painting Competition Competition
2021 - Honorable Mention in juried exhibit Brilliant Color
2021 - Bronze Award in Land and Sea: Painting & Photography Competition
2020 - People's Choice Award in juried exhibit Everything Blue III
2019 - Curator's Choice in juried exhibit Driven to Abstraction IV
2018 - Award of Excellence in juried exhibit Everything Blue II
2018 - Award of Excellence in juried exhibit Driven to Abstraction III
2018 - January/February featured Artist at CI Select Interior Solutions
2017 - Honorable Mention in juried exhibit Everything Blue
2016 - Best of Show in juried exhibit Driven to Abstraction
2013 - 2nd place in juried exhibit Hot Town, Summer in the City

Solo Exhibitions:

2022 - Gods of Iron - Redsheep Gallery, New York, NY
2021 - Estuaries - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2020 - Something in the Water - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2019 - Modern Maritime- Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2019 - Selected Works - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2017 - The Cliff's Edge - Hue Gallery of Contemporary Art, Wichita, KS
2016 - Cays & Coordinates - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2015 - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO
2015 - Feral: Revisited - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2015 - Speed of Blight - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2014 - Constellations - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2014 - Feral - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2013 - New & Selected Paintings - Metropolitan Square Building, St. Louis, MO
2012 - Terra Splendor - Hoffman LaChance Contemporary, St. Louis, MO
2011 - Oil Spills & Metaphors - Aisle 1 Gallery, St. Louis, MO


Group Exhibitions:

2022 - Earthly Delights - Grogan Gallery, Houston, TX
2022 - Bold Abstracts Exhibition - Camelback Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2022 - Anything Goes - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2021 - Open Theme Exhibition - Camelback Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2021 - All Abstracts Exhibition - Camelback Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2021 - Brilliant Color - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2021 - Summer Group Show - Redsheep Gallery, New York, NY
2021 - Land and Sea Exhibition - Camelback Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2021 - Spring Show - Redsheep Gallery, New York, NY
2020 - Everything Blue III - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2020 - Abstraction V - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2019 - Driven to Abstraction IV - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2018 - Everything Blue II - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2018 - Driven to Abstraction III - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2017 - As We Enter New Planes - Matthew Rachman Gallery, Chicago, IL
2017 - Everything Blue - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2016 - Artist Reception - Leopold Gallery & Art Consulting, Kansas City, MO
2016 - Driven to Abstraction - Soulard Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2014 - Fall Group Show: Selected Gallery Artists - Pryor Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2013 - 33December - Old Orchard Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2013 - Fear II - Soulard Art Market & Contemporary Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2013 - Hot Town, Summer in the City - Webster House Galleries, St. Louis, MO
2012 - First Fridays at Crossroads Art District - Wheat Photography, Kansas City, MO
2009 - University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO

abstract, contemporary, oil painting, oceanic, landscape, seascape