If the life of Nicole Fehr were a painting, it wouldn’t be as cohesive as her art, but it would be endlessly interesting and astonishingly beautiful. Growing up in Calgary she took to its Western ways donning wide-brimmed hats, drawing horses endlessly and cranking Country 105. She was then kindly plucked and replanted in northeastern Brazil where her drawing continued and she developed a joy of Brazilian folk music and the dancing continued. All through her academic years, Niki explored the arts both academically and outside of school, learning pottery and sculpting, always with a developing an ever-keener touch for balance, colour and ingenuity.
Having grown up with a comfort around international mobility Niki moved around a lot as an adult, from Alaska and Indiana to Uganda and Northern Ireland and finally settled (for now at least) just below the Rockies in Calgary Alberta. She gained a few creative travel partners along the way including her husband Jason who provides the soundtrack and shapes the spaces they live in, her son Micah who provides facts, games and a desire to explore, and her daughter, Mira who will gives Niki a run for her money when it comes to creative output and will double it with dancing, baking and singing.
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Which ‘hood are you in?
Parkdale, Calgary
What do you do?
I’m the Program Director for Wellspring Alberta, a local cancer support charity. I’m also a lifelong artist and learner, a mom of two, partner to a musician, and a breast cancer survivor. Throughout treatment my easel was by my bedside, helping me escape on the hard days and providing me with joy on the good days. I’m now privileged to lead a team of expressive artists who offer arts-based programs for others living with cancer who find some relief in their journey through the arts. In my own practice, I primarily work in abstract acrylic landscapes and wildlife.
What are you currently working on?
15 different pieces! I work in layers (I started as a watercolourist and still love using the flow of water) so always have multiple things on the go. I love bright colours and just finished this large piece of the Comox glacier (my birthplace) (photo included). I’m now working on a mini-series of mountain lakes in the fog, based on a recent kayaking trip on Minnewanka Lake.
Where can we find your work?
Website, Instagram and several shows throughout Calgary.
