Artist Profile
Nikki Shires
I look at each day as a new one and try to take as much of myself into each new work without erasing the past or blocking the future. As a child I used to imagine living in a tall house with thick walls to enclose as many trap doors and passageways as the ones we knew. Making my art has allowed me beyond those walls into that hidden world. The strange and romantic ideas that existed only in my mind now comes through in my work, enlightening both me and the onlooker.
I make 2D and 3D work.
Relationship to P2
Patrick befriended me in Johnson Hall at VCU when he was working as late night security guard. He intrigued me by his ever-changing hair colour and his far out dress code. We couldn't be more different but that is what seemed to make it work so well. Like many others, he stopped everything when you needed his help or ponder adventure. The amount of time I spent at Red Zero, I should have paid rent. I could not have survived Richmond without Patrick. Our friendship continued even after I left Richmond and moved to Australia. He encouraged me to make my art public and created a perfect home for my art on the web. I have so much to thank Patrick for.