Artist Reception for Nick Gadbois’ “American Oddities” is available for viewing from October 6-29, 2023. Artist Reception is on Friday, October 13, 2023 from 4-6 p.m.
Nick Gadbois’ “American Oddities” centers on unusual roadside attractions mostly from the Heartland of America. The paintings he creates are based on photographs, many of which are taken by the artist. Gadbois doesn’t create scenes from the imagination but paints scenes from real life that already appear surreal, his work is about “Everyday Surrealism.”
The subjects chosen show the offbeat, quirky, playful and inventive side of the American spirit. Subjects such as the World’s largest rocking chair, the giant strawberry, Cornhenge, Carhenge, Wall Drug and the World’s largest ball of twine show a creative ingenuity that is uniquely American. Gadbois’ work celebrates the roadside attractions and natural phenomena that bring pleasure to everyday life.
The son of a commercial illustrator, Nick Gadbois was introduced to surrealism and pop art as a teen. In the late 1980’s he began painting and exhibiting at galleries in Los Angeles. Here he started to use cement as a medium for painting. He received an undergraduate degree in art from Portland State University in 2004 and his graduate degree from Vermont College in 2008. His paintings have been exhibited in San Diego, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Taos and Kansas City. His cement work led to public art projects. In 2008 he was commissioned to create 13 precast cement panels for the Tri Cities Cancer Center in Kennewick, Washington. He was awarded an art project to create an exterior precast cement mural for the University of New Mexico which was completed in 2013. The artist currently lives and works in Ottawa, KS.