Nick Cave Fine Arts Artist

Exhibition: Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth 

Background Information: Nick Cave grew up Missouri in a struggling single parent where he would retransform his hand me downs from his brothers. He attended college at The Kanas City Art Institute in 1982 and during the summer would train as a dancer at Alvin Ailey. Upon graduating college Nick was offered a job for five years at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago. After Nick and his friend made limited editions clothing for ten years. Nick ended up going back to School of the Art Institute in Chicago to be the director of the graduate fashion program where he still is currently working today. 

Inspiration: Nick Cave’s work is inspired by the event of the high-speed chase and beating of the Rodney King. Nick looked at himself and realized that this could happen to him because he is African American. His looks are about identity, disguising himself in works that if you put it on you wouldn’t know who he is. Being raised in home that struggled Nick didn’t have enough money to by materials for his art so he would reuse materials. This is where the use of castoffs in Nick Cave’s work comes from. Nick’s work ranges from being eight to ten feet high and he uses a lot of different materials consisting of sequins, glitter, buttons and hair extensions (he doesn’t hand dye them). He does a lot of layering of different pieces to bring all these different cultures and countries together.

Made with Hair Extensions