about

Nancy Topolski is a mixed media artist who works predominantly in collage and artist books. Using various materials including vintage images and papers for collage, discarded objects and bindings for artist books, electrostatic transfers and second hand/vintage fabric, she creates works on paper, canvas and wood.

The educational experience, learning and understanding (or lack there of) are essential ideas in Topolski's work. She has perpetually been engaged in making as a means of personal expression and more recently interested in pursuing knowledge and understanding through the process of making. The writing process is akin to that of making art and Nancy Topolski offers her viewers/readers of my work the opportunity to grow and learn by thinking both visually and conceptually.

Collage & Mixed Media Art

Education

St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY

Masters in Special Education 2005

Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

Graduate Program in Painting and Printmaking 1989-1991

Bachelor of Arts in Art 1988

Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

Temple University/Tyler School of Art, Rome, Italy, Spring 1987.

Studied lithography, etching, Italian and the Culture and History of Rome.

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Summer 1986

Studied drawing, painting and communications.

Selected Exhibitions

2018

Fast, Cheap and Easy: The Copy Art Revolution

CEPA Gallery Buffalo, NY

(Contemporary and Visual Arts Center)

2017

Take the Long Road Home

New work by Allen and Nancy Topolski

Gallery Q, Rochester, NY

2016

Right Here - solo exhibit

Thread, Rochester, NY

Fit to be Bound

Everson Museum of Art

Syracuse, NY

2014

Waiting for the World to Change

Gallery 413

Anderson Arts Bld, Rochester, NY

2012

Start Something -solo exhibit

Thread, Rochester, NY

2010

Bits and Pieces Invitational

Four Walls Gallery, Rochester, NY

Work around the Home - solo exhibit

Record Archive, Rochester, NY

2009

Collage & Assemblage

Schweinforth Memorial Art Museum, Auburn, NY

2008

The Raven & The Writing Desk

New Work by Nancy Topolski and Rachel Hetzel

Studio 354 The Hungerford Building, Rochester, NY

2007

Action/Interaction Book Arts Exhibit

Columbia College Center for Book and Paper Art, Chicago, IL

2006

Made in New York

Schweinforth Memorial Art Museum, Auburn, NY

Reader’s Art 6 – Changing the Wind

Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

2005

Paper Trail

Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY

Appendix

Rochester Contemporary, Rochester, NY

(un) Bound

Rochester Contemporary, Rochester NY

2004

Reiterations

Lab Space at Rochester Contemporary, Rochester, NY

Read Around the Room, Solo Exhibition

Gallery at the Art Library, University of Rochester, Rochester NY

2003

There’s No Place Like Home

Rochester Contemporary, Rochester, NY

2002

Fiber Works

Center at High Falls Fine Art Gallery, Rochester, NY

Mourning Matters

Nancy Lenker Topolski & Sarah Webb

Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, PA

2001

Hide and Seek; A Traveling Exhibition That Doesn’t Move

Pyramid Arts Center, Rochester NY

Keepings and January Boxes, Solo Exhibition

Gallery at the Art Library, University of Rochester, Rochester NY

2000

Bridging the Gap, Pyramid Arts Center

The Cox Building, Rochester NY,

Received Memorial Art Gallery Award

Members Exhibition, Hallwalls Buffalo NY

1999

January Boxes,Solo Exhibition,

Gallery at the Art Library, University of Rochester, Rochester NY

1999

Members Exhibition, Pyramid Arts Center

Pyramid Arts Center, Rochester NY

1998

Solo Exhibition, Terra Sylvan, Lewisburg, PA

1996

Alumni Artist’s Exhibit, Bucknell Art Gallery,

Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

1994

As She Recalls: An Inquiry About Women and Remembrance,

Points of View Exhibit, Westminster College Art Gallery

1993

Artist’s Books Exhibit, Gallery at the Art Library,

University of Rochester, Rochester NY

1992

Solo Exhibition, Olmsted Gallery,

Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, PA

1991

National Juried Exhibition,

Austin Peay State University, Austin Peay TX

1990

Invitational,Larsen Dulman Gallery, New Hope, PA

1989

Artist’s Books National Juried Exhibition, Zoller Gallery,

Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA