Nathaniel Oliver
Nathaniel Oliver (b. 1996, Washington, DC) imbues the tradition of Black figurative painting with magical realism. Staged vignettes rife with symbolism, their landscapes are inhabited by figures, in Oliver’s words, “grappling with their varied situations as Black adventurers”—fishing, running, swimming, on the lookout for threats both worldly and otherworldly, moving through portals to hidden dimensions. These characters explore faraway lands that exist somewhere between imagination and reality, occupying scenes that blend elements of the artist’s everyday life with a dizzying array of objects, creatures, and plants from around the world. Inspired by Black art history, speculative science fiction, and cosmic jazz, Oliver layers references into elaborate narratives writ large in oil. The artist lives in New York.
Oliver’s work has been shown in solo exhibitions at Karma, New York (2024); HOUSING Gallery, New York (2021, 2020); and Harvest Emerging Art, Washington, DC (2013), among others. His work is held in the collection of the RISD Museum, Providence, Rhode Island.
Born 1996, Washington D.C.
Lives and works in New York
EDUCATION
2018
BFA, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence
SELECTED SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2024
Karma, New York, My Journey Was Long So Yours Could Be Shorter
2021
HOUSING Gallery, New York, Armory Show
2020
HOUSING Gallery, New York, Limbo
HOUSING Gallery, New York, T.A.G.
2013
Harvest Emerging Art, Washington, DC
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
GRIMM, Amsterdam, Self-Portraits
2023
RISD Museum, Providence, Rhode Island, Art and Design from 1900 to Now
2022
Karma, New York, Independent Art Fair
2021
Simone Subal Gallery, New York, Visions and Nightmares
HOUSING Gallery, New York, Steve Cannon Tribute Exhibition
2020
HOUSING Gallery, NADA (Digital) Art Fair, Dune:Doom
2018
Woods Gerry Gallery, Providence, Senior Invitational Exhibition
Portfolio Café, Providence
Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, Senior Show
Memorial Hall Gallery, Providence, Six White Guys
Gelman Gallery, Providence, We Thought of You
2017
The Mansion at Strathmore, Bethesda, MPSGS Annual Exhibition
2016
Framing the Future, Washington D.C.
The Mansion at Strathmore, Bethesda, MPSGS Annual Exhibition
2015
Framing the Future, Washington D.C.
The Mansion at Strathmore, Bethesda, MPSGS Annual Exhibition
2014
The Mansion at Strathmore, Bethesda, MPSGS Annual Exhibition
DESA Gallery, Washington D.C., Senior Exhibit,
2013
Framing the Future, Washington, DC
AWARDS
2018
Becky Westcott ’98 Memorial Painting Award
2017
Gamblin Paint Award
PUBLIC COLLECTION
Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence
