Episode 185 - Nick Vickers

Episode 185 - Nick Vickers

Author: Fiona Verity, Julie Nicholson and Gary Seller May 7, 2024 Duration: 57:45

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Thanks to Nick Vickers for speaking to us from See Street Gallery at Meadowbank TAFE. 

Phillip Martin's exhibition, 'Paintings 1952-1972', is on at See Street until 16th May. 

'Nick Vickers BA Visual Art, Dip. Ed, M.Art Admin

Nick Vickers has been involved in the Australian art industry for over 30 years when he established his first gallery through UNSW Art & Design in 1984. Throughout Nick’s career he has championed the works of emerging artists by establishing a number of galleries through universities and art colleges. He has presented, curated and hosted national and international artists and he has lectured in tertiary, intermediary and secondary institutions.

Nick has contributed to the curatorial expanse of the University of Sydney Art Collection where, through his expertise as Curator of the University Union art collection, he added works of some considerable cultural significance. He established the Sir Hermann Black Gallery & Sculpture Terrace through which he hosted and curated ten years of highly rated art exhibitions and prizes that included The Blake Prize and The Freedman Foundation annual exhibitions.

On a local government level Nick has served on curatorial panels with the City of Sydney, Willoughby, North Sydney (Creative Spaces/ Spaces for Creatives) and Woollahara Councils (Creative Paddington and The Oxford Street Shopfront Festival). He was invited to co-ordinate The Art of Shakespeare, a fundraising touring exhibition of some of Australia’s leading artists that launched in the Sydney Opera House.

On an international level, Nick has served as President of the Slovenian/ Australian Institute that has hosted a program of international art ex- changes and touring exhibitions. In this role Nick negotiated sponsorships and partnerships at ambassadorial and ministerial levels.

During his career Nick has developed a strong network of arts and business professionals. He is panel member with The Freedman Foundation, advises on the artist studio for Curwoods Lawyers and has served as a board member with The Blake Society for over ten years and lectures in Museum Practices.

Currently, Nick works as an independent art curator and is a pro bono board member of the Sydney Art Zone. In 2016 Nick co-curated an exhibition called WAR – A Playground Perspective at The Armoury at Sydney Olympic Park and this year has been invited back by SOPA to curate an exhibition from the studio residency programme entitled Mining Pyrite. This year Nick has been invited to the panel of judges for the Paddington Art Prize.'

Ray Hughes: Africa


There's a fair bit of nonsense that comes with trying to make a life in the arts, something Fiona Verity, Julie Nicholson and their host Gary Seller know all too well. Their Art Wank podcast cuts through that with honest conversations and a good dose of Aussie humour. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in a studio or a pub, listening as these three curious artists dissect their own creative journeys and the wider art world. They bring on a fantastic mix of guests-practicing artists, curators, gallery owners, and teachers-to get real about the business, education, and personal hustle behind the paintings and sculptures. It’s not just theory; it’s practical advice, shared failures, and the occasional triumph, all wrapped in the kind of banter that makes the whole scene feel a lot less intimidating. Tuning into this podcast offers a genuine sense of community, whether you're an established creative, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply someone who appreciates the messy, human side of making art. You’ll find yourself nodding along, laughing, and maybe even rethinking what it means to build a creative life, all while they navigate the ins and outs of the industry with a wry smile.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

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