Blank Title

  • About
  • Work
    • Astrobiology
    • Bio Art
    • Skeletons
    • Welding
  • Exhibitions
    • Astrogenesis
    • Cut/Paste/Grow
    • Anthybrids
    • Coextinction
    • Submerge
  • Classes
    • Introduction to Metalworking
    • TIG Welding
    • Foundry
    • Mold Making
    • Pewter Casting
    • Soap Making
    • Lotion and Lip Balm
    • Kombucha
    • Mycelium
    • Slime Mold
    • Bioluminescence
    • STEAM
  • Research
  • Publications
  • CV
  • Contact
  • About
  • Work
    • Astrobiology
    • Bio Art
    • Skeletons
    • Welding
  • Exhibitions
    • Astrogenesis
    • Cut/Paste/Grow
    • Anthybrids
    • Coextinction
    • Submerge
  • Classes
    • Introduction to Metalworking
    • TIG Welding
    • Foundry
    • Mold Making
    • Pewter Casting
    • Soap Making
    • Lotion and Lip Balm
    • Kombucha
    • Mycelium
    • Slime Mold
    • Bioluminescence
    • STEAM
  • Research
  • Publications
  • CV
  • Contact

CURRICULUM VITAE

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

Lab Manager, March 2021 - Current 
Slow Factory BioFabrication Lab, New York
Growing and maintaining living cultures to be used in biofabrication, processing biomaterials, experimenting with biofabrication process, advising on process, maintaining safety standards, organizing and sanitizing lab, ordering supplies 

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

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, Feb 2021 - Nov 2021
Cooper Union, (Bowery) NYC
Teaching, writing curriculum, inventing classes, and assisting students. Classes: Kombucha Paper Making and Sculpting with Mycelium 

Art Instructor, January 2013 - Dec 2021
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

Science: BioArt Including: fermenting, inoculating, preparing plates, lab safety, sanitizing, growing organisms, kombucha, mycelium, slime mold, bioluminescent organisms, mushrooms, plants, greenhouse care and management     

Office: production managing, employee management, employee training, project planning, client coordinating, vendor coordinating, organization, Google Docs, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite

Other Interests: science research, science fiction, camping and hiking, geology, writing  

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by MacHighway