ABOUT
Artist Bio
Nick Pizana is an artist based in Detroit, Michigan, who works in paintings, murals and comics. Nick studied Journalism and Art at Wayne State University, and studied Painting at Cranbrook Academy of Art. Nick has written for Hifructose Magazine and as an arts columnist for BLAC Detroit. His work has appeared in the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Cranbrook Art Museum, Ann Arbor Art Center and Spotlite Detroit. Nick has created murals for The City of Detroit, The Lansing River Trail, The Detroit People Mover, Murals in the Market, the Gilbert Family Foundation and more. Nick works as assistant curator of collections for the Elaine Jacob Gallery at Wayne State University.
Artist Statement
I’m interested in using paintings as devices for storytelling. Many times these stories are a mix between lived experiences and imagination. Pulling from my early career as a graffiti artist, I’m interested in using expressive marks, dynamic colors and twisting forms in unconventional ways that push these images into feeling like they come from a world that is all their own.
NICK PIZAÑA
Detroit, MI (b. 1990)
CV
Education
2022 MFA Painting, with study in Printmaking and Interaction Design, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2013 BA, Journalism, Minor in Art, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Professional Experience & Appointments
2026–Present Collections and Curatorial Assistant, Elaine Jacobs Gallery, Detroit, MI
2014-Present Southfield Public Arts Commision
2022–2025 Assistant Preparator, Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2016–2022 Co-Owner / Co-Curator, KO Gallery, Hamtramck, MI
2014-2019 Board of Directors, Whitdel Arts, Detroit, MI
Residencies
2026 Artist in Residence, Tead One Artist Residency, Hamtramck, MI
2022 Artist in Residence, ProjectArt Detroit, Detroit, MI
2014 Artist in Residence, Red Bull House of Art, Detroit, MI
Selected Murals & Public Works
2025 Great Lakes Water Authority Processing Plant
2024 Lansing River Trail, Lansing, MI
2024 Detroit People Mover (City Walls Detroit), Detroit, MI
2023 7 Mile & Gratiot (City Walls Detroit), Detroit, MI
2023 Murals in Islandview Festival, Detroit, MI
2019 Murals in the Market Festival, Detroit, MI
Awards & Grants
2020 Merit Scholarship, Cranbrook Art Academy
Solo & Duo Exhibitions
2026 PODIUM, Adepter Gallery, Detroit, MI
2026 Hell of It (with Dino Valdez) Mouse Gallery, Detroit, MI
2020 'Til the Wheels Fall Off, DSC Gallery, Detroit, MI
2018 Five Fingers of DEF, KO Studio/Gallery, Detroit, MI
Selected Group Exhibitions
2026 Love, Spot Lite, Detroit, MI
2025 City Walls Detroit Artist Showcase, Design Studio 6, Detroit, MI
2025 Water, Norwest Gallery, Detroit, MI
2023 A Nightmare on Roncesvalles 2, Northern Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2023 Comm[Unity] II, Playground Detroit, Detroit, MI
2023 Summer Lovin’, Northern Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2023 Motion, Spot Lite, Detroit, MI
2022 Black Artist Showcase, Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor, MI
2022 100th All Media Exhibition, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI
2022 Deep Space, MDW Art Fair (Mana Contemporary), Chicago, IL
2022 Graduate Exhibition, Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2020 Fresh Paint, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2019 Murals in the Market Festival Exhibition, 1xRUN, Detroit, MI
2019 Gradient Colors, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Detroit, MI
2017 8-Bit, Whitdel Art × Hatch, Hamtramck, MI
2017 K-OPENING, KO Gallery, Hamtramck, MI
2015 Heads & Tails, Spread Art, Detroit, MI
2015 Red Bull House of Art Alumni Exhibition, Red Bull House of Art, Detroit, MI
2014 Red Bull House of Art Cycle 9, Red Bull House of Art, Detroit, MI
2012 Wayne State University Student Exhibition, WSU Art Department Gallery, Detroit, MI