Nick Modrzewski
Nick Modrzewski is an artist based in Naarm/Melbourne, whose work delves into the realms of law and social ritual.
Biography of Nick Modrzewski
Nick Modrzewski was born in 1988 in Australia. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts (2016) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne (2011).
The artist has exhibited both locally and internationally. His solo shows include "The Knees and Ankles of a Landlord" at Discordia Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (2020); "The Plaintiff’s Third Face" at COMA, Sydney, Australia (2021); "The Laws of Landscape Painting" at Watch This Space, Alice Springs, Australia (2022); and "Jiggery-Pokery" at COMA, Sydney, Australia (2022). He has also participated in two-person exhibitions such as "Comfortable Living" (with Nabilah Nordin) at C3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne, Australia (2015); "The Nutmeg Dream" (with Nabilah Nordin) at OH Open House, Singapore (2018); and "Love Cushions" (with Nabilah Nordin) at First Draft, Sydney, Australia (2019).
Nick Modrzewski has also made his mark in group shows, including "Chicken Shop" at Loyang Lane Hawker Centre, Singapore (2016); "Hygenia3000" at True Estate, Melbourne, Australia (2018); "What is a company?" at KINGS Artist-Run, Melbourne, Australia (2019); "Spring 1883" at Discordia Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (2021); "Contour 556 Biennial" in Canberra, Australia (2022); "Homo Sacer" at La Trobe Art Institute, Bendigo, Australia (2023), among others.
Currently, the artist lives and works in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia.
Nick Modrzewski's Art Style
Nick Modrzewski's paintings are densely layered and acrylic; they form the backbone of his practice. In his work, he portrays figures entangled within legal processes or bureaucratic systems: from naked neighbors wrestling over a fencing dispute to a congregation of medieval noses convening to draft legislation, and even suited men engaged in a plant watering competition.
In each scene, Modrzewski dissects the rules of social interaction, presenting them in a sensuous and fluid painterly language. His works are characterized by a persistent interest in narrative, theater, and absurdity, and they extend beyond painting to encompass sculpture, text, and performance.
