Nicole has worked as a professional Lead Artist with nonprofits in Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods since ’97. She specializes in creating permanent public art projects with her apprentice artists that are collaborative, site-specific murals & mosaics that are integral reflections of their communities. The themes are professionally fused & woven with their original contributions and synonymous with their personal aspirations, cultural histories and missions.
Regarding her own body of public artworks, Beck has built site-specific sculptures for public spaces that are dynamic and unique works wrought via collaborative processes of design and fabrication. These public artworks are colorful and joyful, and they create a space for the participants and viewers to bring personal interpretation. She specializes in communicating with all invested partners in giving them agency and ownership of the project.
This 6 min. documentary beautifully illustrates Beck’s process:
Check out examples of Nicole’s Urban Gateways programs:
Jazz Music Provides Visual Inspiration for New Dyett High School
Entrance Mosaic by South Shore Students Welcomes Community with Creativity
Teaching Students About “The Birds and the Bees”
Work
Sample Images
Resume / CV
Artist Information
Languages Spoken
- English
Years with Urban Gateways
- 22
Areas of Expertise
- Public Art Installations
- STEAM residencies
- In-depth trauma training
Learning Environments
- Virtual
- Hybrid
- In-Person