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Artist Statement

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I address the temporality of nature and the human experience of chronic illness by depicting animals with limitations, deformities, or ailments that put them at risk or could lead to fatality. My work defines chronic illness as the survival of the not-so-fittest, and highlights hope, decline, and the futility of our struggles against fate.

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I’m aware that even the healthy will inevitably face sickness or death but my chronic illness has made my life and my body a defiance of natural selection. Biologically, I am an animal that was programmed to die young – before having a chance to pass on my weakness to offspring. This conflict is reflected in the hardships the animals in my artwork undergo, and many of them experience detrimental side effects that I may face in the future. I owe my life to consistent access to medical care, which most disadvantaged animals do not have. Stepping into their hooves and paws by exploring the hypothetical of being an unassisted animal gives me a unique appreciation for my human privilege, and a profound sorrow for those that lack it. 

About Zo

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Zoe Nielsen goes by the artist name of Zo Nicole. She received her BFA in Studio Arts from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska and currently attends Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana as a MFA candidate of Studio Arts, Instructor of Record, and Printmaking Studio Technician. 

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Zo is active on Instagram as @zo.nicolestudio.art where she posts frequent updates about her process and life as an emerging artist. She also owns an Etsy shop by the name of ZoNicoleIllustration where prints, original artwork, jewelery, and ceramics are available for purchase. 

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Click the icon above to visit @zo.nicole.studio.art on Instagram

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ZO NICOLE STUDIO ART © 2023 By Zoe Nielsen. Proudly created with Wix.com

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