About

Short Bio

Statement

My work explores the intersection of geometric abstraction and
patternmaking, drawing inspiration from interior design sources such as House of
Hackney, Architectural Digest, and the intricate wallpaper designs of William
Morris, a key figure in the British Arts and Crafts Movement. This fusion of fine
art, architecture, and design allows me to reexamine themes in art history while
engaging with contemporary influences.

Acknowledging the practices of 20th-century geometric abstraction, I
challenge its reductive tendencies by reintegrating pattern, depth, and symbolic
color. Kazimir Malevich’s Suprematism shaped my early exploration of
abstraction, the discovery of Hilma af Klint, and her work's innovations of
abstraction and use of colors. Bauhaus pioneers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
and Anni Albers have also influenced my approach, particularly in bridging the
gap between craft and fine art.

Over time, my focus has evolved toward integrating geometric and organic
elements, embracing abstraction’s hard edges while rejecting its historical
resistance to spatial illusion. Through shaped canvases, wood sculptures, and
ceramic works, I incorporate motifs referencing domestic spaces—textiles,
architectural forms, and the subtle interplay of light. My work invites viewers to
pause and engage with the layered complexities of personal experience.

Biography

Nichole Gronvold-Roller is a painter who received a BFA in Art Education from Minnesota State University of Moorhead, an MA in Art Education from Boston University, MA, and an MFA in Painting from Bradley University. In addition to being an artist, Nichole is a full-time high school art teacher in Tremont, IL, where she has been teaching for the past twenty-six years. Furthermore, she is a contributor writer for the Inland Art column with Community Word.
A selection of recent group and solo exhibitions include New Optics, The Painting Center, New York, NY (2020); Nonobjective, Contemporary Art Center, Peoria, IL (2020); Ensemble: Together Again, The Painting Center, New York, NY (2020); Up Down and Through, Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA (2020); Pathways, McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL (2021); Seen but not Felt, Bradley University Galleries, Peoria, IL (2021); Pendulum, Anne Lloyd Gallery of the Madden Arts Center, Decatur, IL (2022); The Shape Maker, BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA (2022); The Painting Center Benefit 2023, Painting Center, New York, NY (2023); Flip Flap Fold, Bradley University, Peoria, IL (2023); New Gallery Artists, Gilded Pear, Cedar Rapids, IA (2023); Mudhouse Exhibition and Artist Residency, Crete, Greece (2023), Beyond Painting, Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg, SC (2023); Linger, Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, Fond du Lac, WI (2024); A Quiet Sautner, Rockport Center of the Arts, Rockport, TX, (2024); Color Stacks, Studio Break, West Chicago, IL (2024). Upcoming and recent events Everwood Farmstead Foundation Artist Retreat, Glenwood City, WI (2024); Portfolio 24 at the Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL (2024); Doin' Our Own Thing, BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA (2024), Chateau d'Orquevaux Artist Residency Orquevaux, France (2025), James May Gallery, Milwaukee, WI (2025) and Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI (2026 TBA).
A selection of publications featuring Gronvold-Roller’s paintings includes The Bend (Corpus Christi, TX) Refrigerator Poetry (New York, NY) Dubuque Museum of Art (Dubuque, IA), Artforum (New York, NY), Wall Street International (Budya, Montenegro), Peoria Journal Star, (Peoria, IL), GRAFIX® (Maple Heights, OH), Herald Review, (Decatur, IL) Inside Publications (Sacramento, CA), Saatchi Rising Stars Catalog, and Kolaj Magazine.
Artist representation at BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA; The Gilded Pear, Cedar Rapids, IA; J. Nunez Gallery, Millburn, NJ; James May Gallery, Milwaukee, WI; and Banz Studios, Cincinnati, OH. Artwork may also be found at The Painting Center (Art File), New York, NY, Muse Gallery, Morton, IL.

Resume / CV

Nichole Gronvold Roller
https://www.nicholesgallery.co...
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Education
2023 MFA in Painting at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois
2020 MA in Painting at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois
2013 MA Art Education at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
1997 BFA in Art Education at Minnesota State University of Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota
Residency
2024 Everwood Farmstead Foundation’s Artist Retreat (not public until March 28th)
2025 Chateau d'Orquevaux Artist Residency Orquevaux, France
2023 Mudhouse Exhibition and Artist Residency, Crete, Greece
Solo Exhibitions
2026 TBA.Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI
2024 A Quiet Saunter. Rockport Center for the Arts, Rockport, TX
2024 Linger.Thelma Sadoff Center For the Arts, Fond du Lac, WI
2023 Passing Through. Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL
2023 Flip Flap Fold. Heuser Art Center. Bradley University, Peoria, IL
2022 Shape Maker. BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2022 Pendulum. Anne Lloyd Gallery of the Madden Arts Center, Decatur, IL
2020 Up, Down, and Through. Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA
2019 Jefferson Street Studio and Gallery, Morton, IL
2018 Above Ground. BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2018 Obscure Space. Contemporary Art Center, Peoria, IL
2017 Beyond Place. Jan Brandt Gallery, Bloomington, IL
2017 Blip Out. Jefferson Street Studio and Gallery, Morton, IL
2014 Jefferson Street Studio and Gallery, Morton, IL
2008 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley University, Peoria, IL
2008 Arbor Gallery, Edwards, IL
2008 Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL
2007 WTVP, Peoria, IL
Group Exhibitions
2025 TBA, James May Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
2025 TBA, Gilded Pear, Cedar Rapids, IA
2024 Studio Break, West Chicago, IL
2023 The Painting Center Benefit 2023. The Painting Center, New York, NY
2023 Beyond Painting, Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg, SC
2023 Mudhouse Residency Exhibition, Agios Ioannis, Irapetra, Crete, Greece
2023 Welcome New Gallery Artists, Gilded Pear, Cedar Rapids, IA
2022 Refrigerator Poetry February Exhibition.
2021 The Painting Center Benefit 2021. The Painting Center, New York, NY
2021 Seen but not Felt. Bradley University Galleries, Peoria, IL
2021 Pathways. McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL
2020 Ensemble. Together Again. The Painting Center, New York, NY
2020 Nonobjective. Contemporary Art Center, Peoria, IL
2020 A Few of Our Favorite Things. BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2020 New Optics. The Painting Center, New York, NY
2020 The Days Art Short. James May Gallery, Algoma, WI
2020 Carry Weight, Hold Light curated by Heather Brammeier. Contemporary Art Center,
Peoria, IL
2019 Sudden Change of Wind. James May Gallery, Algoma, WI
2019 Spookeh 4 Invitational. Jan Brandt Gallery, Bloomington, IL
2019 Art of Water III. James May Gallery, Algoma, WI
2019 Together. Jan Brandt Gallery, Bloomington, IL
2019 Summertime Sadness. James May Gallery, Algoma, WI
2019 Revolving Doors. Appleby Gallery, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL
2018 To Carry, To Hold, curated by Heather Brammeier. International Studio and Curatorial
Program, Brooklyn, NY
2018 13th National Juried Exhibition. Axis Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2018 Curious Metaphors. Peoria Public Library, Peoria, IL
2018 International Juried Show. Beacon Gallery, Boston, MA
2018 Madron Gallery, Chicago, IL
2018 Almost 17 & # we're still here. BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2018 SuperFine! Art Fair 2018 (with the BoxHeart Gallery), New York, NY
2017 Nonetheless, She Created. Jefferson Street Studio and Gallery, Morton, IL
2016 3rd Annual Abstract Catalyst Exhibition. Verum Ultimum Art Gallery: Portland, OR
2016 Mix it Up. Royal Contemporary, Florence, CO
2016 Map it Out. Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA
2016 To Sum Degree. The HUD Gallery and Studios, Dab Art: Ventura, CA
2016 Transpace, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL
2015 AR-FLUNG, Contemporary Art of the Midwest. The Art on Elston Gallery, Chicago, IL
2015 Those Who Can. Jan Brandt Gallery, Bloomington, IL
2015 60th International Exhibition Bold Expressions. Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Carmichael,
CA
2015 National All Media Exhibition. Chico Art Center, Chico, CA
2015 Art by America: A Review of 2-Dimensional Contemporary Art. The Art House, Chicago, IL
2015 Dubuque Museum of Art Biennial. Dubuque Museum of Art: Dubuque, IA
2013 Secret Gardens. The Pearce Gallery: Dunlap, IL
2012 Student Gallery Online. Boston University, Boston, MA

2011 The Speakeasy Art Center, Pekin, IL
2007, 2009, 2010 Art Kudos, Artkudos.com
2006 Made in Peoria. Black Walnut Gallery, Chicago, IL
2006 Illinois State Artisan Shop, Illinois State Museum, Chicago, IL
2004 Structures. Illinois State Museum: Rend Lake, IL
1995, 1996, 1997 Minnesota State University of Moorhead: Moorhead, MN
Publications
2024 Refrigerator Poetry Winter (online exhibition) New York, NY
2022 Refrigerator Poetry Visual Art Archive June 2022 Exhibition Catalogue. Tampa, FL
2021 Inland Art/Welcome Nichole Gronvold Roller. Community Word. Peoria, IL
2020 Up Down and Through Paintings by Gronvold-Roller. Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque,
IA
2020 New Optics Catalogue. The Painting Center, New York, NY
2019 The Painting Center New Optics. Artforum, New York, NY
2019 New Optics. Wall Street International, Budva, Montenegro
2018 Abstract art from three artists to be exhibited at Peoria Public Library, Peoria Journal Star,
Peoria, IL
2018 CHECK OUT NICHOLE GRONVOLD ROLLER’S ARTWORK. Boston Yoyager Magazine.
Boston, MA
2016 Art teacher keeps alive the legacy of Tremont-born sculptor Viola Norman. Peoria Journal
Star, Peoria, IL
2016 GRAFIX® LESSON PLAN SERIES LESSON 20: INTEGRATION OF ART AND TEXT
WITH GRAFIX CLEAR-LAY AND DURA-LAR. CREATED BY NICHOLE GRONVOLD
ROLLER.GRAFIX®, Maple Heights, OH
2016 Blick Art Supplies, Galesburg, IL
2015 INSIDE: GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD: OCTOBER 2015. Inside Publications,
Sacramento, CA
2015 Utrecht Art Supplies; Brooklyn, NY
2014 TEACHING BY EXAMPLE. Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL
2013 Boston University; Boston, MA
2012 Two women team up for a 'whimsical' exhibit. Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL
2011, NOT JUST TEACHERS. Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL
2008, PREVIOUSLY SEEN IN PEORIA. Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL
2007 HER OWN TAKE ON "STRUCTURES. Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL
2004, A PAINTBRUSH, A CANVAS AND AN ATTIC. Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL
2003 Encyclopedia of Living Artists, 12th Edition
2002 Pantagraph; Bloomington, IL
Gallery Representation
2023 - Present: Banzs Studio: Cincinnati, OH
2023- Gilded Pear, Cedar Rapids, IA
2023 - J. Nunez Gallery, Millburn, NJ
2019 – Present: James May Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
2017 – Present: BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Teaching Experience
1998- Present: Tremont High School Art Teacher, Tremont, Illinois
Collections
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA
John and Jeff Heintzman
Dr. Charles Sims
Darryl and Kathy Smette