Artist Statement:
Beauty is the FOIL for what “lies” beneath the surface of my paintings….
Artist Statement:
Beauty is the FOIL for what “lies” beneath the surface of my paintings….
Through a universal visual language, my paintings are fables created to communicate moral lessons about how we treat the world in which we exist. Fables are timeless devices to deliver, in a simple manner, what can be understood and enjoyed by viewers of all ages. The fable is one of the oldest and most lasting method of storytelling that is easily communicated through fictional examples with the main characters being plants, animals, birds, and insects. These non-human characters exist as human-like entities but still retain their own characteristics giving purpose to why they are chosen for my narratives. For example, the bee symbolizes new beginnings, hard work, and wisdom. Hares are associated with the circle of life, and by extension, with spring, renewal, and immortality. Fawns represent the innocence and purity of youth.
As an artist, I present my narrative in a number of ways using a series of images that represent moments in a story or by selecting a central moment to stand for the story in its entirety. Unlike the traditional fable, I invent my own storylines leaving the viewer to imagine the narrative. As evident in every one of my paintings, the title is the introduction to the fable that I have presented for the viewer to create their own story.
Nathaniel Aric Galka
Born 05.05.1975
Education:
2001: MFA, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Full Scholarship and Fellowship / 1998: BFA, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, Ohio. Top Scholarship / 1993: Marie Walsh Summer Art Program recipient.
Group Shows:
2026: ”Spring Jewels” Forum Gallery, New York, NY (May 19th -June 16th) https://www.forumgallery.com/exhibitions/spring-jewels
2025: ”Favoriite Things” Forum Gallery, New York, NY https://www.forumgallery.com/exhibitions/favorite-things
“Hazy Shade of Winter” Carol Corey Fine Art, Kent, CT
“Drawing To A Close” Carol Corey Fine Art, Kent CT
2024: “Stop and Breathe…” Carol Corey Fine Art, Kent CT
Art o Paper presented by Carol Corey Fine Art
Selected Works on Paper, DFN Projects, NYC, NY
2023: “Think Twice” Carol Corey Fine Art, Kent CT
Holiday Pop Up Show, Leila Heller Gallery, NYC, NY
Frozen Forest exhibition at Abu Dhabi Art Fair, Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai, UAE
“the storyteller”, Leila Heller Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2020: “Drawing Challenge #1” Jason McCoy Gallery, NYC, NY
“drawing Challenge #4 Jason McCoy Gallery, NYC, NY
“Holiday Show” Jason McCoy Gallery,NYC,NY
2019: Silvermine Art Center, New Guild Artist Show, Silvermine, CT
2018: “outside the box” Gitana Rosa Gallery, Art Factory Studios, Patterson, NJ
“small works” (not)sheep GALLERY, COLUMBUS, OH
“summer rotation/group show #1” Littlejohn Contemporary, NYC, NY
“summer rotation/group show #2” Littlejohn Contemporary, NYC, NY
2017: “summer group show” Littlejohn Contemporary, New York, NY
“group show” Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
“group show” Gitana Rosa Gallery, New York, NY
“group show” Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
2016: “group show” Hall-Barnett Gallery, New Orleans, LA /
2015: “group show” Hilton Hotel Downtown, Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
“4 artists’ group show” Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
“flowers and clay” Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2014: “diver up” Stray Cat Gallery, New York City, NY
“artHamptons” Gitana Rosa Gallery (New York City), Bridgehampton, NY
“krampus show” Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL
“juicy” Gitana Rosa Chelsea, NYC, NY
“three in nature” Kai Lin Gallery, Atlanta GA
“flower vine” Gallery Minerva, Ashville, NC
“nature” Gallery Minerva, Ashville, NC
2013: “inaugural show” proto gallery, Hoboken NJ
"show", 423West Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2 person, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL
IX Florence | Biennale Internazionale, Florence, Italy
2012: Affinity, Kai Lin Art, Atlanta, GA
"The Others" Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
PoP, Kai Lin Art, Atlanta, GA
Dog Days, Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Art at The Airport, Knoxville, TN
Illustrative, Kai Lin Art, Atlanta, GA
BLOOM, Kai Lin Art, Atlanta, GA
Metamorphosis: Recycle to Art, Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge, TN
Terra, Kai Lin Art, Atlanta, GA
National Juried Show, The Emporium Building (The Cultural and Arts Alliance), Knoxville, TN (award Best in Show)
2011: SIDESHOW, Muse gallery, Columbus, OH
A Show of Teachers, Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge, TN
GLOW, Kai Lin Gallery, Atlanta, GA
New Artists, Plum Gallery, Knoxville, TN
Bring on The Bling, Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
Art at The Airport, Knoxville, TN (November-May)
OPENSHOW, Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge, TN (award Best in Show)
reUsed, Gallery @ The Lunch Box, Knoxville, TN
2010: ARTScapes, Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN
On going, Redline Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2009: "4" Arts Tonight, 8Shooters Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2008: March, Three Flights Up Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2007: June Show, Three Flights Up Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2003: Rope Climb, Packer Schoff Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000: Group, Dittmar Gallery, Evanston, IL
1999: Red, Dittmar Gallery, Evanston, IL
1994 to 1999: Annual Show, Outside Juried Competition, Columbus, OH
Solo Shows:
2024: “A world between worlds…” Carol Corey Fine Art, Kent, CT
“A second chance…” Carol Corey Fine Art, Kent, CT
2022: “rebellious nature”, Leila Heller Gallery, NYC, NY
2018: “nature’s walk…” at Perch for Pergola, Kent, CT
“stories of the forest” Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
“flat ikebana photographs” The Gallery at Lillian August, Norwalk, CT
“the promise of lingering…” The Gallery at Lillian August, Norwalk, CT
2017: “nomadic now” Gitana Rosa, New York
2016: “wanderland” Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes CA
2015: “bounty” Flatiron Design Collective, New York City, NY
“first forest” New York City, NY
“twilight light” Hilton Columbus Downtown Art Space curated by Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
“nature’s affair” Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago IL
2014: “twilight falls gently” Kai Lin Gallery, Atlanta, GA
“unbridled muses” Gitana Rosa Chelsea, NYC, NY
2013: "cloud bouncing", Kai Lin Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2012: TUMBLE TIME, Gallery Minerva, Asheville, NC
Planted HERE!, KLA2 Gallery, Atlanta, GA (curated by Yu-Kai Lin, Kai Lin Gallery, Atlanta GA)
Flower to Honey, KLA2 Gallery, Atlanta, GA (curated by Yu-Kai Lin, Kai Lin Gallery, Atlanta Ga)
Flora Domicile, Packer Schoff Gallery, Chicago, IL
The Birds and the Bees, Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
The Wave Hits Happy, Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge, TN
"a garden for Patrick...", TVUUC Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2011: Flowers-n-Friends, The Small Hall Gallery @ Magpies, Knoxville, TN
Poppy Talk, Gallery @ The Lunch Box, Knoxville, TN
The Altamont Gallery Presents... Nathaniel Galka, The Altamont Theatre, Asheville, NC (curated by Anna Parker Barnett Consulting, Gallery Minerva)
Fun With Garden Scissors, Red Line Gallery, Knoxville, TN
Blue Room, Symphony League Showcase House, Knoxville, TN
2010: The birdies are here!, Bella Vista Art Gallery, Asheville, NC
Long Skies... Flat Land, Gallery at Nouveau Classics, Knoxville, TN
land, Gallery at Nouveau Classics, Nashville, TN
2009: Wild Times, Bella Vista Art Gallery, Asheville, NC
Bird, World Grotto Gallery, Knoxville TN
2001: Undercover, Dittmar Gallery, Evanston, IL
1999: Nogasha (Nudes), Waldo’s On High Gallery, Columbus, OH
1998: My Work to Date, Canzoni Gallery, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
Publications:
Open Space: May 2023
Artnet News: March 2022
Artnet News: November 2021
Wall Street International: March 2021
Aspire Magazine: April 2020
Studio Visit Magazine: December 2017
Connecticut Cottages and Gardens magazine, February 2017
Studio Visit Magazine: Spring 2012
The Pandorian: London, England
Art Initiative Verfhond: Amsterdam, Holland
Corporate collections:
Hope Center, Nashville, TN
Hilton Hotel Downtown, Columbus, OH
The Pentagon Building, Washington D.C.
Tennessee State Capital Building, Nashville, TN
Pilot Oil, Knoxville, TN
Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge, TN - Contemporary Collection
WNCAP, Ashville, NC
Horizons Organization, Chicago, IL
Coca-Cola, Atlanta, GA
CJD Enterprises, Los Angeles, CA
DeAngelis Ltd, Glen Head, NY
Galleries affiliations past and present:
Forum Gallery, New York City, NY
Lelia Heller Gallery, New York City / Dubai
Carol Corey Fine, Art Kent, CT
Aron Packer Projects, Chicago, IL
Littlejohn Contemporary, New York, NY
Kai Lin Art, Atlanta, GA
Gallery Minerva, Asheville, NC
Gitana Rosa Gallery, New York, NY
Bella Vista Gallery, Asheville, NC
Muse Gallery, Columbus, OH
Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, Il
Hall Barnett Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Affiliations:
Katonah Art Museum Artist member 2018
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum 2023
The Bruce Miseum 2024