Nicolas Party
Nicolas Party (b. 1980, Lausanne, Switzerland) is a New York-based artist who works across the disciplines of painting, drawing, sculpture, and performance. Party’s portraits and still lifes are frequently rendered in soft pastel and conveyed in a range of palettes and fantastical settings. His androgynous, biomorphic subjects challenge the normative codes of representational painting. Blended by hand, Party’s lustrous, jewel-toned murals create immersive environments which skew perspective and expand beyond the picture plane. Party’s fascination with the natural world, and the characters which inhabit it, is faithful to the combined legacies of Classical antiquity, Renaissance painting, late 19th-century Romanticism, and 20th-century figurative painting.
Party completed a BA in Fine Art at the Lausanne School of Art before undertaking an MA at The Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 2009. Recent solo exhibitions include Karma, New York (2021); Le Consortium, Dijon, France (2021); Kunsthalle Marcel Duchamp, Switzerland (2021); MASI Lugano, Switzerland (2021); Hauser & Wirth, Los Angeles (2020); Xavier Hufkens, Brussels (2019); Modern Institute, Glasgow (2019); M Woods Museum, Beijing (2018); Magritte Museum, Brussels (2018); Kaufmann Repetto, Milan (2018); Karma, New York (2017); Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2016); and the Dallas Museum of Art (2016).
Party’s work is represented in the collections of the David Roberts Art Foundation, London, United Kingdom; Migros Museum, Zurich, Switzerland; Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany; and the Sifang Art Museum, Nanjing, China.
Photo: Stefan Ruiz
Born 1980 Lausanne, Switzerland
Lives and works in New York
Education
2009
MFA, Glasgow School of Art, United Kingdom
2004
BFA, Lausanne School of Art, Lausanne, Switzerland
Selected Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions
2022
Hauser & Wirth, Hong Kong, Red Forest
Poldi Pezzoli Museum, Milan, Triptych
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, L’heure mauve
2021-22
Karma, New York, Watercolor
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C., Draw the Curtain
2021
Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover, Germany, Stage Fright
Le Consortium, Dijon, France, Boilly
Kunsthalle Marcel Duchamp, Cully, Switzerland, Heads and Cave
MASI Lugano, Switzerland, Rovine
2020
Hauser & Wirth, Los Angeles, Nicolas Party: Sottobosco
2019
Xavier Hufkens, Brussels, Grotto
Marble House, Newport, Nicolas Party: MARBLE GHOSTS, curated by Dodie Kazanjian
The Modern Institute, Glasgow, Polychrome
2018
M Woods Museum, Beijing, Arches
Magritte Museum, Brussels, Magritte parti
The Modern Institute, Aird’s Lane Green Space, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Head
Gregor Staiger, Zurich, Heads
Kaufmann Repetto, Milan, Pietra Dura
2017
Karma, New York, Pastel
Gallery MET, Metropolitan Opera, New York, Dinner for 24 Sheep
Xavier Hufkens, Brussels, Three Seasons
Hirschhorn Museum, Washington DC, sunrise, sunset
Modern Art Oxford, United Kingdom, Nicolas Party: Speakers
2016
Palazzo Antinori, Florence, Italy, Nicolas Party in the Garden Room
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, Hammer Projects: Nicolas Party
Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, Pathway
The Modern Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Three Cats
Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Cimaise
Glasgow Print Studio, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Mezzotint
Neuchâtel International Film Festival – Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Sorcières et escargots; with Jesse Wine
RISE Projects, London, Snails in Notting Hill; with Jesse Wine
2015
kaufmann repetto, Milano, Italy, Snails’ Chapel
SALTS, Birsfelden, Switzerland, Panorama
Inverleith House, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Boys and Pastel
kaufmann repetto, Milano, Italy, Two Naked Women
Centre culturel suisse, Paris, Pastel et nu
2014
Westfälischer Kunstverein, Münster, Germany, Trunks and Faces
Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, Germany, Three Elephant’s Day
Kunsthall Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway, Landscape
Galerie Gregor Staiger, Zurich, Pastel
David Dale Gallery, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Carrot Stairs
2013
The Modern Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Still Life Oil Paintings and Landscape Watercolours
Davel 14, Cully, Switzerland, Cully Jazz: Nicolas Party
2012
Salon 94 Freemans, New York, Dinner for 24 Dogs
Gregor Staiger, Zurich, Still Lifes and Big Naked Women
Swiss Institute, New York, Still Life, Stones and Elephants
2011
Remap 3, Athens, Greece, Still Life, Gold and Peeling Paint
The Modern Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Dinner for 24 Elephants
The Woodmill, London, Elephants at the Woodmill
Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, Germany, Three Elephant’s Day; performance with Serge Vuille
Doll Espace D’Art Contemporain, Lausanne, Switzerland, Charlotte; with Stephane Devidal
2010
Le Rez de Chaussee, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Elephants, spoons and sausage rolls
Collective Gallery, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, New Work Scotland
Intermedia, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Teapots and Sausages
La Placette, Lausanne, Switzerland, Teapots, Bread and Sausages
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022
Margot Samel, New York, To be a giant and keep quiet about it
Art & Newport, Isaac Bell House, Newport, Rhode Island, Pictus Porrectus
LACMA, Los Angeles, Artists Inspired by Music: Interscope Reimagined
Alexander Berggruen, New York, The Natural World: Part I
2021
FLAG Art Foundation, New York, and I will wear you in my heart of heart
Le Consortium, Dijon, L’Almanach 20
Foundation de l’Hermitage, Lausanne, Switzerland, Hans Emmenegger
The Hole, New York, Nature Morte
2020
Karma, New York, (Nothing but) Flowers
Kaufman Repetto, Milan, vent’anni – twenty years
Hauser & Wirth, New York, Artists for New York
Museo Jumex, Mexico City, Colección Jumex. On the Razor’s Edge
The Zënza Sëida Cultural Association and the Biennale Gherdëina, Dolomites, Italy, Biennale Gherdëina 7
Kunsthaus Zürich, Zürich, Shall und Rauch
McCabe Fine Art, New York, Figures and Faces. A McCabe Pop Up Exhibition in New York
2019
GRIMM Gallery, New York, Away in the Hill
The FLAG Art Foundation, New York, Nicolas Party. Pastel, curated by Nicolas Party
Phillips, London, HYSTERICAL
2018
Mendes Wood DM, Brussels, Nightfall, curated by Erika Verzutti, Fernanda Brenner and Milovan Farronato
Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle, Belgium, The Biennial of Painting
Herald St, London, Use Your Illusion
Jessica Silverman Gallery, San Francisco, Open House
Parkett @ Nomad St. Moritz, Samedan, Switzerland, SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL
Frac Lorraine, Metz, France, You Remind Me of Someone
Fondation de l’Hermitage, Lausanne, Switzerland, Pastels du 16e au 21e siècle
Fondation Vincent Van Gogh Arles, Arles, France, La Vie simple – Simplement la vie
2017
Künstlerhaus Bremen, Bremen, Wie werden wir uns wiedererkennen, curated by Fanny Gonella
2016
S.M.A.K., Ghent, Belgium, These Strangers… Painting and People
Galerie Patrick Seguin, Paris, Olympia; organized by Karma, New York
Inverleith House, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, I still Believe in Miracles
König Galerie, Berlin, Surreal
Kunsthalle Emden, Germany, VITAMINBOMBE Früchtebilder von Picasso bis Warhol
2015
Shanaynay, Paris, Full House
Salon 94, New York, Tiger Tiger
Antinori nel Chianti Classico, Cantina del Bargino, Italy, STILL-LIFE Remix
artgenève Art Fair, Geneva, Switzerland, Prix Mobilière
Shanghai Himalayas Museum, Shanghai, China, Poster Club: Wheat, Mud, Machine
2014
Milan, Italy, THENnow, Miart
Natalia Hug Gallery, Cologne, Germany, I’m so green
Kumu Art Museum, Tallinn, Estonia, I’m a Painting
2013
Neues Museum, Nürnberg, Germany, /prospekt/ Funktion / Disfunktion – Kunstzentrum Glasgow
Gavin Brown’s enterprise, New York, Uri Aran, JWDB, Nicolas Party
Glasgow Print Studio, United Kingdom, 40/40
Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, Germany, IHRE GESCHICHTE(N)
Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany, Just What Is Not Is Possible – Painting in Space
The Bothy Project at the Walled Garden, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 157 Days of Sunshine
2012
Frieze Art Fair, London, Frieze Projects 2012
Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, CARPETS OF DISTINCTION
Gregor Staiger, Zurich, Switzerland, The Best of Times
R4, Ile Seguin, Paris, Allez-y
The Duchy Gallery, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Arrives In Starting
2011
Eastside Projects, Birmingham, United Kingdom, Painting Show
Eastside Projects, Birmingham, United Kingdom, Poster Club
Glasgow Print Studio, United Kingdom, Poster Chaud
GOMA, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Blueprint for a Bogey
Travelling Gallery, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Draw in
The Royal Standard, Liverpool, United Kingdom, Elephants at The Royal Standard
2010
Le Quartier Centre d’Art Contemporain, Quimper, United Kingdom, Air de jeux
Mary Mary, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Interference with twigs
The Glue Factory, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Kiss of death
Temporary Space, Glasgow, United Kingdom, The Show in the Shoe
2009
Project Room, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Gazing Ball
Tramway, Glasgow, United Kingdom, MFA Show
APS Artnews project+Twinspace, Berlin, Set up and go
Plateaux Festival Mousonturm, Frankfurt, The Complete World History of Terrorism as it is Known Today + Solution
Festival les Urbain, Arsenic, Lausanne, Switzerland, The Complete World History of Terrorism as it is Known Today + Solution
2008
Galerie Analix, Geneva, Fertiles differences
The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Royal Scottish Academy Exhibition
Kunstalle, Ligenthalle, Switzerland, Unter < 30
Messe, Basel, Switzerland, Swiss Art Award
2007
Ford, Geneva, Switzerland, Blakadama
Docks, Lausanne, Switzerland, Les Urbaines
Ford, Geneva, OB zine
Centre Pasquart, Bienne, Switzerland, Unter < 30
Ford, Geneva, Switzerland, Wunder stanza
2006
Espace Bellevaux, Lausanne, Switzerland, Blakam madame 2
Circuit, Lausanne, Switzerland, Mini golf
Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland, Viper Basel
2005
La Rusille, Vallorbe, Switzerland, Elle procure des plaisirs qui n’ont rien à voir avec le plaisir de se gratter
Park Tower Hall, Tokyo, Swiss Videolandscape Today | lopped sensations
Goethe-Institute, Kyoto, Swiss Videolandscape Today | lopped sensations
2004
Arsenic, Lausanne, Switzerland, Cinquième partie
2003
Mudac, Lausanne, Switzerland, Désire Design
Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Madrid, MediaSpace Suiza
Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland, Viper Basel
2002
Plug.in, Basel, Switzerland, Viper 22 replay 2
Commissions and Permanent Installations
2021
Hirschhorn Museum, Washington D.C., Draw the Curtain
2020
RxArt, Los Angeles Children’s Hospital
2017
Metropolitan Opera, New York, Dinner for 24 Sheep
Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Nicolas Party: Cafe Party
Awards
2008
Swiss Art Award, Messe, Basel, Switzerland
Public Collections
Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas, Texas
David Roberts Art Foundation, London
Fiorucci Art Trust, London
Fondazione Fiera Milano
Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo
Julius Baer Art Collection
Jupiter Artland
Kunsthall Stavanger
Kunsthaus Zurich
Marciano Foundation, Los Angeles
MASI (Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana), Lugano
Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zurich
Museum Folkwang, Essen
MWOODS, Beijing
Roche Art Collection
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels
Rubell Family Collection
Swiss Re Art Collection
UBS Art Collection
Westfälischer Kunstverein, Munster
Zurich Insurance Art Collection
Publications
2019
Gertrude Abercrombie, Ann Craven, Nicolas Party, Matthew Wong
Karma, New York
60 pages
8 1⁄4 × 11 inches
2017
Pastel
Karma, New York
184 pages, hardcover
9 3/4 x 11 1/4 inches
2014
Pastel
Galerie Gregor Staiger, Zurich
30 pages
9 1/2 × 12 1/4 inches
2011
Nicolas Party
The Modern Institute/Toby Webster Ltd, Glasgow
48 pages, softcover
9 1/2 × 8 1/4 inches
