Nicole was born in Milan, Italy and grew up In Montreal. She moved to San Francisco as a young adult where she worked as a modern dancer and teacher for many years. After moving to Vancouver, she earned a degree in art from Emily Carr Institute and she continues to pursue her passion for art making. 

Nicole enjoys change and new adventures. She has opened and managed two restaurants, worked as a Pilates instructor for both the general population and special populations and volunteered extensively in schools teaching children both art and dance. 

Her desire to  experience new and different cultures led her to volunteer in Uganda for 5 months in 2008. She worked in both private and public schools there doing art projects with both special needs and typical children. 

Seeing a need for schools that engaged children in the learning process in a creative and dynamic way led her to a partnership with a Ugandan educator with similar ideals. Together they conceived the idea of opening a school that supported their vision of child centred education. Nicole turned an idea into reality when she purchased a one acre piece of land in the capital city of Kampala. Construction began in 2009 and Stand Tall Training Centre celebrates its 10th birthday in May 2019.

Education

1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Vancouver, BC

1998 Exchange Program, California College of Arts & Crafts, Oakland, CA

1978 Masters of Fine Arts in Dance, Mills College, Oakland, Ca

1970 Bachelor of Science, McGill University/Montreal, QC 

Solo Exhibits

2013 Place Settings/Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery/Vancouver,BC (digital media)

1997 Fertile Territory/Vancouver Arts Council/Vancouver, BC (hand built sculptural vessels)

1995 Mood Vessels/Canadian Association of BC Crafts/Vancouver, BC (hand built sculptural vessels)

1995 Barbara Silverberg Gallery/Montreal, QC(hand built sculptural vessels) 

Group Exhibits

2018 Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery/Vancouver, BC.  digital media (gallery space shared with one other artist)

2004 Vancouver Art & Interior Design Show/BC Place, Vancouver, BC.  A selection of photographs based on the nude

2004 Waterfall Gallery/Vancouver, BC.  Photography

2003 Ginger 62/Vancouver, BC.  Photography based on the nude

2001 Artropolis/Vancouver, BC.  Installation piece “key chain”

2000 BC Festival of the Arts/Nelson, BC.  2 multi-media installations (clay, wood, plaster)

2000 9thNational Biennale of Ceramics/Quebec.  Floor installation of waxed clay pieces

1999 Hive/Dynamo Gallery, Vancouver, BC.  Wall installation of plaster pieces

1998 Made by Hand, Canadian Craft Museum, Vancouver, BC.  Ceramic sculptural objects

1996 14thAnnual Vancouver Juried Exhibition/Vancouver Arts Council.  Ceramic mixed media sculptural vessel

1994 BC Artists of QC, Barabara Silverberg Gallery, Montreal, QC.  Ceramic Vessels