Studio Visit: Nic Notion
Nic Notion unveils new abstract landscape paintings depicting nature overtaking residential and industrial structures. Spaces and Times, is an eight-painting series presented as an Artsy online exclusive exhibition, with a limited, invite-only collector viewing at PLAYGROUND DETROIT.
Spaces and Times marks a significant evolution in Notion’s practice, introducing hand–tie-dyed raw canvas as both surface and conceptual foundation. Created shortly after the birth of his first child, the series reflects themes of time, space, gratitude, and love—capturing moments where nature and architecture exist in quiet collision. Buildings, organic forms, and symbolic references to ancient pasts and speculative futures appear simultaneously, suggesting layered histories rather than linear timelines.
Each canvas begins unprimed and raw. Notion folds, rolls, and binds the fabric before dyeing it repeatedly, allowing chance and control to coexist. Once sun-dried and stretched, the canvases become sites for painting, where exaggerated natural forms and manmade structures are applied using putty knives and layered paint. The resulting surfaces are richly textured, emphasizing tension, contrast, and movement. Throughout the series, Notion works with a restrained palette—primarily white and black gesso with high-gloss enamel—creating visual cohesion across the body of work. Notion’s work blends fine art, spirituality, and social observation.
Spaces & Times IABOUT THE ARTIST
NIC NOTION (American, b. 1983) is a multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in Highland Park, Michigan. Notion has exhibited his work in Detroit, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and London UK. He has been a part of Detroit’s Music and Art scenes for over 20 years. He is currently studying Anthropology at Wayne State University.
His methods include using putty knives and layers of paint to create distinct textures which expose the tension and contrast within his ever-changing environment. These details, containing themes of optimism, nature and God are expressed in his abstract paintings. He blends elements of Fine Art and Anthropology to shine light on the conjunction between beauty and decay.
