Posed

Nicole O'Regan

The first 17 years of my career was as a structural steel fabricator.  Projects included structural skeletal framework for large domestic buildings, commercial buildings and difficult, complex structures.

Over 10 years ago I merged into art fabrication for other artists as well as exhibiting my own works, exhibiting widely throughout NSW.

Nicole has always been a “maker” from attempting to build a brick dog kennel from the age of 8 to building a three bedroom house unaccompanied to where she is now, currently a practicing artist.

Having been a steel fabricator for the first 17 years of her career, naturally her sculptures were predominately steel. In her pursuit of creating sculptures that are unique, never been done before Nicole has been incorporating rocks in her work.

The formation of the rocks is how they are found. Spending many hours searching for the right shapes and scale. Then carefully weaving steel around the natural contours and structure to create the form.

Nicole lives in the small locality of Hampton, central west NSW. She lives on an isolated property of native bushland 1083 metres above sea level, winters are significantly cold with snow falling a few times a year. She feels extremely privileged to live in such an idyllic landscape alongside her partner Jono and blue cattle dog Remi.

Exhibitions

Defiance Gallery miniature show, Paddington, Lake Light Jindabyne, Orange Regional, Sawmillers, McMahons Point, HIDDEN Rookwood, finalist Mudgee portrait prize just to name a few. And most recently won a major acquisition prize at Sculpture in the Garden Mudgee and major prize at Sculptures @ Scratchley Newcastle.

Somewhere down the Lachlan, Forbes 2016
Sculpture in the gardens, Mudgee 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,2022
Scone horse festival 2016
Regional art exhibition, Condobolin 2016
Regional art exhibition, Oberon 2016
Rydal and district show, Rydal 2016
Orange Regional Art Gallery 2017
Camden art prize, Camden 2018
Sculpture in the Scrub, Rydal 2018, 2019
Sculpture in an Orange garden 2019
Lake Light Sculpture, Jindabyne 2019,
Sculpture for Clyde, Balemans bay 2019
Bathurst regional art gallery 2019, 2021
Sculpture on the farm, Dungog 2019
6 x 6 x 6 miniature sculpture show, Defiance Gallery 2021, 2022
Sculpture at Sawmillers 2022
Finalist Mudgee portrait prize 2023
Lake light sculpture Jindabyne 2023
Sculpture @ Scratchley 2023
HIDDEN, Rookwood cemetery 2023

Awards and Prizes 

2016    Winner, people's choice award. Oberon Regional art exhibition
2016    Winner, three dimensional. Oberon art exhibition
2016    Winner, overall. Condobolin Regional art exhibition
2016    1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, sculpture Rydal and districts show
2017.   Winner Tarana art prize
2018.   Winner Tarana art prize
2018.   People's choice award. Sculpture in the scrub
2019    Winner Sculpture in the scrub
2021    Winner, Friends of Sculptures in the garden Mudgee
2023    Finalist, portrait prize Mudgee arts precinct
2023    Winner, peer award Sculptures @ Scratchley

Teaching

2019 - present: Artist resident mentor and teacher
2016  Welding workshops

Employment

2014 - presently: Artist and art fabricator