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Nicole O'Kelley was born in 1956 in Algiers capital of the North African country of Algeria,
a French colony at that time.
When she was three, her family moved to France. Despite her tender age, Nicole born
Desgrousilliers-Villalonga, brought with her memories of the sea, palm trees, the sun and of
vibrant warm colors. In spite of early predisposition for drawing and painting, she chose a
classical ballet career to express her artistic abilities .
In 1973, she settled in Canada with her family. The painting became gradually more
present in her life. In 1986, she studied with the French painter Pierre Pivet and at the
Heidi Bondman school of fine art.
In 1987, she won a first prize in an art contest in Montreal. In 1989, she took part in
numerous exhibits, with the Circle Des Artistes Peintres Du Quebec. She won other
prices awarded by the well known art historian Guy Robert. In her exhibits, she earned
recognition and joined the prestigious galleries in Montreal :'L'Art Français "and "L'Art
Contemporain". She has held several exhibits on her own.
A quote by Henri Matisse became a recurring theme both in her painting and in her life:
"Art is not about invention. It must always be judged in terms of human emotion.Without
sincerity no work of art can be considered authentic. I repeat, sincerity is quintessential
because a work of art thrives from human emotion."
Art critics have on numerous occasions underscored the influence of impressionists such as
Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh and fauvisms such as Matisse as Nicole O'Kelley's work, but
over the years, her paintings have taken on a distinctive character and became "O'Kelley's
Carnival of Venice First Price . Fine Art Contest at the Italian Cultural Center
Montreal, Quebec in 1987 .
La Soupière Award of excellency. Contest of visual Art.
Artistes Peintres du Québec, Montreal in 1989.
Lavender field Honorable Mention. National Contest of Visual Art of C.A.P.Q
Montreal, in 1993
Pears Honorable Mention tandem Computer Exhibit .San Jose, Ca 1994
Corn field Honorable Mention. Tanden Computer Exhibition .San Jose, Ca 1994
Exhibits in Galleries
Nova Gallery Montreal 1989
Pyramid Gallery New York 1989
L'Art Français Montreal 1990
Brocard Gallery Prevost 1991
Art Contemporain Gallery Montreal 1992
Entre Cadre Gallery Montreal 1993
Louis Aronow Gallery Sausalito, CA 1996
Port Royal Gallery Montreal 1998
Frank Stone Gallery Minneapolis 2000
ArtExpo New York 2001
Hopkins Gallery Scottsdale 2003
More Exhibits
Italian Cultural Center Montreal 1987
La Côte à Baron Montreal 1989
La Petite Ardroise Montreal 1989
Mirabel Airport Mirabel 1989
Salon de la jeune peinture Montreal 1991
Hospital Honore Mercier Saint-Hyacinthe 1991
National contest of visual art Montreal 1993
Groupe Sutton Immobilia Outremont 1996
The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Phoenix, Arizona 2001
Celebration of Fine Art Scottsdale, Arizona 2003
Art Link , juried art exhibition. Phoenix , Arizona 2007
La Côte à Baron Montreal 1989
La Petite Ardroise Montreal 1989
Mirabel Airport Mirabel 1989
Salon de la jeune peinture Montreal 1991
Hospital Honore Mercier Saint-Hyacinthe 1991
National contest of visual art Montreal 1993
Groupe Sutton Immobilia Outremont 1996
The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Phoenix, Arizona 2001
Celebration of Fine Art Scottsdale, Arizona 2003
Art Link , juried art exhibition. Phoenix , Arizona 2007
Awards
