Education Master of Fine Arts: May 2011 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Major: Studio Art, Sculpture
Bachelor of Fine Arts: May 2008 Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD Major: Interdisciplinary Sculpture, Minor: Photography
Grants and Awards 2014 Best in Class, Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science 2011 Pratt Circle Award for Students with Distinction 2011 Pratt Institute’s CAA Teaching Grant to attend the CAA Conference 2009 – 2011 Pratt Institute’s Graduate Assistantship 2009 Pratt Institute’s Graduate Merit Based Scholarship
Publications Cooper Union Climate Coalition, Thursday Talks, "Making with Microbes" December 2020 Geekadelphia, “New Exhibit at the EKG has Extraterrestrial Life and Kombucha” April 2016 Bio Art: Altered Realities, by William Myers, “Nikki Romanello”, October 2015 Cut/Paste/Grow, “Nikki Romanello”, August 2014 Bio Art Web Series, “Nikki Romanello” Summer 2014 Animal New York, “Cut/Paste/Grow: The Beautiful Abominations of Bio Art”, March 2013 Big Red and Shiny Magazine, “Nikki Romanello”, Episode 2, March 2013 NY Arts Magazine, “Nikki Romanello”, Vol. 18, Fall 2011 Hamptons Art Hub, Visual Diary, “Patchogue Biennial”, November 2011 World Wide Art Books, Artist Dictionary, “Nikki Romanello”, 2012 Gateway Magazine, “Students Take the Heat During Bronze Pour”, December 2010 Juxtapose Magazine, “Asterism Exhibition at Gallery Four”, November 2008 Senior Document Catalog, “Nikki Romanello”, May 2008 Kaleidoscope Magazine, “Advanced Placement Art” November 2001
Residencies and Fellowships Hot Wood Art Center, Brooklyn (Red Hook), New York, December 2012 - December 2013
Professional Experience
BioArt Instructor, Feb 2021 - Current Cooper Union, (Bowery) NYC Teaching, writing curriculum, inventing classes, and assisting students. Classes: Kombucha Paper Making and Sculpting with Mycelium
Metal Fabricator and Welder, May 2020 - Current Poster House, (Chelsea) NYC Fabricating and welding display structures for exhibitions including Freak Power
American Welding Society Certified Welder GTAW 1402091W Certificates of Fitness: Exp. June 2019 New York City Fire Department F-01, A-35, G-60
BioArt Instructor, April 2017 - Current Genspace, Brooklyn (Sunset Park), NY Teaching, writing curriculum, inventing classes, and assisting students. Classes: Kombucha Paper Making, Sculpting with Mycelium, Drawing with Slimemold, and Painting with Bioluminescence
Art Instructor, January 2013 - Current Brooklyn Brainery, Brooklyn (Prospect Heights), NY Teaching, writing curriculum, inventing classes, and assisting students. Classes: Mold Making, Soap Making, Pewter Casting, Lotion and Lip Balm Making, Kombucha Paper, Sculpting with Mycelium, Drawing with Slimemold, and Painting with Bioluminescence
TIG Welder, July 2013 - Jan 2019 Token, Brooklyn (Red Hook), NY Precision TIG welding for furniture and art fabrication projects, metal finishing and patina, responsible for metal production managing, inventory, training, safety, shop and machine maintenance
Production Manager, March 2017 - Jan 2019 Token, Brooklyn (Red Hook), NY Responsible for all production managing, coordinating with all vendors, scheduling production timeline for orders, supervising shop and employees, scheduling employees, ordering materials, scheduling shipping
Instructor, February - October 2013 3rd Ward, Brooklyn (Williamsburg), NY Writing curriculum, inventing classes, helping students with projects. Classes: Introduction to Metalworking, TIG Welding, Pewter Casting, BioArt, Urban Food Production, Kombucha Brewing, Soap Making
Metal Shop Technician, February 2013 - July 2013 3rd Ward, Brooklyn (Williamsburg), NY Maintaining metal shop, welding furniture for classrooms, teaching, knowledge of metalworking techniques, operating equipment, safety procedures, emergency protocol, required to have Certificates of Fitness
Certificates of Fitness: Exp. June 2022 New York City Fire Department F-01, F-60, A-35, G-60, G-61
TIG Welder and Project Manager, May 2012 - January 2013 Robert Lazzarini Studio, Brooklyn (Greenpoint), NY TIG welding (bronze, steel, aluminum, stainless steel), metal sculpture, metal finishing, managed projects and studio, trained new employees, assisted artist in preparation for a solo show at Marlborough Gallery in Chelsea NYC, sculpture and metalworking background required
Sculpture Fabricator and Project Manager, July 2011 – May 2012 Will Ryman Studio, Brooklyn (Williamsburg), NY Assisted artist with preparing for a solo show at Paul Kasmin Gallery in Chelsea NYC, sculpture fabrication, project management, trained and supervised interns, supervised studio, installed solo show, art restoration (repairing, resurfacing, painting), metalworking (welding, armature building, finishing), fiberglassing, woodworking, mold making, sculpture background required
Foundry Teaching Assistant, January 2011 – May 2011 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Assisted professor in foundry class, supervised wax room and foundry, helped students, gave demonstrations, photographed demonstrations and student work, required foundry experience, required knowledge of operating equipment, safety procedures, and emergency protocol
Machining Teaching Assistant, September 2010 – May 2011 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Assisted professor in lathe and mill machining classes, maintained machine shop, supervised machine shop, helped students, giving demonstrations, photographed demonstrations and student work, graded and evaluated students, required experience with lathe and mill, required knowledge of operating equipment, safety procedures, and emergency protocol
Welding/Forging/Fabricating Teaching Assistant, Sept. – Dec. 2009, Jan. – May 2011 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Assisted professor in welding/forging/fabrication classes, maintained metal shop, supervised metal shop, helped students, gave demonstrations, required experience with Oxy-Acetylene welding, MIG and TIG welding, required knowledge of operating equipment, safety procedures, and emergency protocol
Graduate Metal Shop Assistant, September 2009 – May 2011 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Assisted students in welding, fabrication, forging, foundry, and sheet metal working classes, maintained metal shop, supervised metal shop, assisted students and professors, required knowledge of operating equipment, required experience with fabricating, welding, forging, safety procedures and emergency protocol, required to have a Certificate of Fitness NYFD
Visitor Services Associate, February – August 2009 Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD Assisted visitors, welcomed visitors, processed ticketing, cash management, trouble shooting over the phone, required knowledge of artists and exhibitions, required knowledge of arts and culture in Baltimore, general front desk concierge
Artist Interpreter for Franz West Retrospective, September 2008 – January 2009 Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD Critiqued, explained, and discussed art with visitors, analyzed and studied the work of Franz West
Studio Assistant, September - November 2008 Harris Rubin, Baltimore, MD Constructed and grouted mosaic table tops, produced new technique of sculpting grout, cut glass tiles, sanded wood table tops, stained wood table tops, applied patinas to metal tables
Metal Shop Monitor, January – May 2008 Maryland Institute College of Art, Sculpture Dept. Baltimore, MD Supervised shop, assisted students with metalworking, maintained shop and tool crib
Sculpture Teaching Assistant, August – December 2007 Maryland Institute College of Art, Sculpture Dept. Baltimore MD Assisted professor, performed demonstrations, participated in critiques, assisted students with their work
Assistant to the President, May – Sept. 2006 and May – Sept. 2007 Maryland Institute College of Art, President’s Office, Baltimore MD Organized office, organized mail, set up boardroom for meetings, answered phones and directed calls, trouble shooting over the phone
Visitor Services Associate, May – September 2006 The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD Assisted and directed visitors, walked through galleries with visitors to answer questions about the art, general front desk concierge, answered phones
Lab Assistant, August – December 2005 Collin College, Dept of Natural Science, Plano, TX Organized and maintained laboratory and greenhouse, prepared classroom laboratory, setup and cleanup, answered phones
Exhibition Experience
Solo Exhibitions Esther Klein Gallery, Astrogenesis, April - May 2016, Philadelphia, PA Hot Wood Art Center, Resident Solo Show, Nov. – Dec. 2013, Brooklyn, NYC Rivington Design House Gallery, Anthybrids, March 2012, Lower East Side, NYC Botanic Gallery, Mutatis Mutandis, Semi-Solo Exhibition, January 2012 Brooklyn, NYC Steuben Gallery, MFA Thesis Exhibition: Coextinction, April 2011 Brooklyn, NYC
Group Exhibitions Bio Design Challenge, 5th Year Celebration and Auction, April 2020, Brooklyn, NYC Genspace, BioArt Show, June 2019, Brooklyn, NYC New York Hall of Science, Maker Faire, September 2014, Queens, NYC New York Hall of Science, Cosmos, September 2013 – March 2014, Queens, NYC Hot Wood Art Center, Organic Matters, July – August 2013, Red Hook, Brooklyn, NYC Observatory, Cut/Paste/Grow, Bioart Show, March - May 2013, Brooklyn, NYC Observatory, Resurrection, February - March 2013, Brooklyn, NYC Rivington Design House, Holiday Print Show, December 2012, Lower East Side, NYC Pratt ARC Gallery, Residual, November 2012, Brooklyn, NYC North Light Gallery, Exogenesis, August - September 2012, Brooklyn, NYC North Light Gallery, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, June 2012, Brooklyn, NYC 69th Regiment Armory, Fountain Art Fair, March 2012 NYC Observatory, The Pop-Up Museum, March - May 2012 Brooklyn, NYC Briarcliffe College Gallery, Patchogue Biennial 2011, Oct. – Nov. 2011, Patchogue, NY 3rd Ward, Summer Open Call, Top 50 Artists, August – September 2011, Brooklyn, NYC Hadas Gallery, 1st Annual Community Exhibition, July - August 2011, Brooklyn, NYC Broadway Gallery, Global Arts Projects Exhibition, July/Sept/Oct 2011, Soho, NYC Pratt Manhattan Gallery, MFA Exhibition, May 2011, NYC Hunter College/Times Square Gallery, CAA MFA Exhibition, Feb-April 2011, NYC Schafler Gallery, Crossing Disciplines, February 2011, Brooklyn, NYC Pratt MFA Open Studios Tour, December 2010, Brooklyn, NYC TedX Event Exhibition, November 2010, Brooklyn, NYC Steuben Gallery, MFA Show, Sept. – October 2010, Brooklyn, NYC Steuben Gallery, Survey Show, March 2010, Brooklyn, NYC Limner Gallery, Show Of Heads, November 2009, Albany, NY Steuben West Gallery, MFA Open Studios, Nov. 2009, April 2010, Brooklyn, NYC Steuben Gallery, Pratt Graduate Show, September 2009, Brooklyn, NYC MICA Alumni 15”x15” Exhibition June 2009, Baltimore, MD Baltimore Museum of Art, Colleague Show, May 2009, Baltimore, MD School 33 Gallery, Lotta Art Exhibition/Fundraiser, April 2009, Baltimore, MD Rosenberg Gallery, Charity Auction, January 2009, Baltimore, MD The Walters Art Museum, Jewelry Show, Dec. 2008, Baltimore, MD Gallery Four, Asterism Exhibition, Nov. 2008 – Jan. 2009, Baltimore, MD Station Gallery, BFA Commencement Exhibition, May 2008, Baltimore, MD Study Abroad Exhibition, September 2006, Baltimore, MD Foundation Exhibition, September 2006, Baltimore, MD
Volunteering and Activities Teaching Art and Science Workshops at Elementary School, 2019 - Current Gave artist demos at the Philadelphia Science Festival, April 2016 Worked the booth at the Maker Faire for Genspace, 2014 Invited to speak on the BioArt Panel at Genspace, 2014 Participated in a Making Documentary for 3rd Ward, June - August 2013 Artist Talk, 3rd Ward, April 2013 Participated in short documentaries about bioart, March - April 2013 Biotechnology Class, at Genspace, October 2012 Curator, North Light Gallery, June - September 2012 Volunteer, Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, October 2011 - April 2012 Post MFA Art Group, June 2011 - December 2011 Curator, Broadway Gallery, July 2011 - November 2011 Pratt Artist League, September 2009 - May 2011 Iron Caster at University of Maryland Iron Pour, November 2007 – July 2009 Foundry Club, MICA, September 2007 – May 2008 Art Club, September 2002 - May 2004
Skill Set Metalworking: Welding Including TIG, MIG, Oxy-Acetylene, Stick (metal: steel, iron, bronze, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium), brazing, foundry metal casting (metal: iron, aluminum, bronze, granite, low temp metals), (foundry molds: shell, plaster, sand), machining (lathe, mill), oxy-acetylene cutting and plasma cutting, hot and cold forging, patinas and heat treatments, building armatures, sandblasting, grinding, polishing, soldering, drilling, taping.
Fine Arts: Sculpture Including: metalworking, mold making (molds: fiberglass, plaster, rubber, silicone, alginate, latex, vacuum-forming), soap, ceramics, glassblowing, woodworking, stone carving, jewelry, wax, plastics, fibers, screen-printing, film and digital photography, alternative process photography (cyanotype), painting (oil, acrylic), figure drawing from life, figure sculpture, sculpture installation, curating