Bio
Nellie Appleby is from the mountains of Virginia and she spent influential childhood years in Botswana. She earned her Bachelors degree in Anthropology from the University of Virginia and her Masters of Fine Art in Photography and Film from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is the recipient of many grants including two South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowships and a Virginia Museum of Fine Art Fellowship. She has exhibited her works at The Museum of Contemporary Art Miami, ChaShaMA, Dimensions Variable, David Castillo, Oolite Arts, (Miami) The Deering Estate, Florida Atlantic University, Anderson Gallery, Museo Ex-Convento del Carmen (Guadalajara), Galería Metropolitana (Mexico City), Wildfist and The Cave (NYC) among others. She is thankful to have been awarded residencies at The Research Studio Maitland, Blue Mountain Center, VCCA, Vermont Studio Center, Carrizozo AIR, Residencia en la Tierra and The Studios of Key West among others. Her life and work are deeply engrossed with the study of ecology and plants, the cultivation of gardens and beauty, the exploration of wildness and the examination of culture and expression through the actions of photography and sculpture. She has dedicated her life to these practices.
She lives and works between sub tropical South Florida and the mountains of Virginia.
Nellie Appleby
www.nellieappleby.com email: nellieappleby@yahoo.com
Lives and works in the mountains of Virginia and on the island of Key West, Florida.
Education
2007 MFA, Photography and Film, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
1997 BA, Anthropology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Solo Exhibitions
kalahari shade, Alliance Francaise, Gaborone, Botswana, January 2024
the sunshine collectors, The Studios of Key West, May 2022double shadow, Park Avenue Studio, Savannah, Georgia 2018
offerings from the sun and earth, Grace on Frances, Key West, FL 2018
Blue Nights, Grace on Frances, Key West, FL 2017
Natural Seduction, Key West Pottery, Key West, FL 2013
BIOPHILIA, Dimensions Variable, Miami, FL 2010
Toward a New Kinship Constellation, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA 2007
make stars, Paninoteca, Brooklyn, New York 2005
Botanica and Friends, Paninoteca, Brooklyn, New York 2004
The Beautiful Room, The Cave, Brooklyn, New York 2002
Pretty Excitable, Wildfist, Brooklyn, New York 2000
In the Air, Artland, Brooklyn, New York 2000
2 and 3 person Exhibitions
On Location: Dimensions Variable, Oolite Arts, Miami Beach, FL 3 person show 2015
Forget Me Not, The Deering Estate, Miami, FL 3 person show 2013
Kindred Spirits – with Marlene Koenig, The Studios of Key West, Key West, FL 2 person show 2013
Hunt or Gather, New work by Michael Lease and Nellie Appleby, Saville Gallery, Cumberland, MD 2009
Thick as Thieves, curated by AJ Liberto, Skydive, Houston, TX 2008
NANG/collaborations, with Nikolai Goodich, NATURE, Charlottesville, VA 2003
Danielle Reide and Nellie Appleby, Le Yeux Du Monde, Charlottesville, VA 2003
Selected Group Exhibitions
South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship Exhibit, Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL 2019
Regarding the Wild, curated by Basia Goszczynska, Chashama, Brooklyn, NY 2019
Blue Christmas, Helen Harrison Gallery, Key West, FL, 2017
Doppelgänging, Rutter Family Foundation, Norfolk, VA 2015
Languages on Earth, Residencia En La Tierra, Filandia, Quindio, Colombia 2014
DCG Open, David Castillo Gallery, Miami, FL 2012
new art south florida, SFCC Fellowship Exhibition, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 2012
Sculpture Key West, Key West, FL 2012
in light of recent events, curated by spectre horizon for art fair week, Museo Vault, Miami, FL 2010
Artistas en pleno Medio Ambiente, Galería Metropolitana, Mexico City, Mexico 2009
Portraits by Artists in Residence, The Armory at The Studios of Key West, FL 2009
Transitos Alternos - Brooklyn Nueva York - Guadalajara Jalisco, Museo Ex-Convento del Carmen, Guadalajara, Mexico 2008
Past Meets Present, The Off Grounds Gallery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 2007
A Man Called Alex, Founders Hall, VCU, Richmond, VA 2007
We and Us, Playspace, California College of Art, San Francisco, CA 2007
Capirotada/All Mixed Up, Leonard Codex, Brooklyn, New York 2006
Loose Current, Bad Switch, Quirk, Richmond, VA 2006
W/E, Claremont University, Los Angeles, CA 2006
Art to make it rain, outdoor installation, ADA Gallery, Richmond, VA 2006
VCU Presents MFAs, Capital One, Richmond, VA 2006
I Live Here, RKL Gallery, Brooklyn, New York 2004
Stinky Paradise, The Mighty Robot, Brooklyn, New York 2004
Shabbat, Leonard Codex, Brooklyn, New York 2004
Rubulad Sells Out, Rubulad, Chelsea, New York City 2003
On Fire, Rubulad, Long Island City, New York 2003
AUNSPAUGH 1984-2003, Fayerweather Gallery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 2003
Wild Kingdom, Rubulad, Brooklyn, New York 2002
The Fringe Festival, IX Center, Charlottesville, VA 2002
We Love Our Customers, The Hungarian Consulate, New York City, NY 2001
In the Lake, Malca Fine Art, New York City, NY 2001
Photography Show, NATURE, Charlottesville, VA 2001
Awards, Residencies, Achievements
Visiting Artist, Maru-aPula School, Gaborone, Botswana 2024
Grant, Special Project Grant, Florida Keys Council of the Arts, 2022
Artist in Residence, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, 4 weeks, fall 2021
Artist in Residence, Blue Mountain Center, New York, 4 weeks, summer 2021
Artist in Residence, Maitland Art & History Museums – The Research Studio, 9 weeks, fall 2020
Associate Artist at Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, FL 2019/2020
Fellowship, South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship 2019 (and 2012)
Publication of FUTURE COMPOST, a 100 page color photo book 2019
Artist in Residence at Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT with Fellowship 2018 and 2005
Artist in Residence at Carrizozo AIR, Carrizozo, New Mexico 2018
US Coast Guard Captains License, Near Coastal 100 miles offshore 100 Tons, 2016
Grant, Anne Mckee Artist Fund Grant 2016 and 2012
Artist in Residence at the inaugural Sedona Summer Colony by invitation, 2016
Artist in Residence at Residencia En La Tierra, Quindio, Colombia, 2014
Fellowship, South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship 2012
Artist in Residence, The Studios of Key West, Key West FL 2009
Fellowship, Graduate Exhibit Development (VCU) with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 2006-2007
Grants, Travel and Research Grants for research of art in the Botanical Garden context, from Virginia
Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 2006-2007
Co-President of the Graduate Arts Association, Virginia Commonwealth University 2007
Grant, Water Sentinels Grant for ecological work with the Clinch River in Virginia, Sierra Club, San
Francisco 2007
Artist in Residence at Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT with artist grant 2005
Artist assistant to painter Chris Martin, Brooklyn 2000-2005
Fellowship, Virginia Museum of Fine Art Fellowship 2001-2002
Curatorial
Graduate Exhibit Development Fellowship (VCU) with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 2006-2007
made in brooklyn, curated by Nellie Appleby and Chris Martin, Cono's Pizza, Brooklyn, NY 2001
Organizer with Eliesha Grant of 10 ‘cheap art parties’ based on the philosophy of the Bread and Puppet Theater showing hundreds of artists work at various spaces in Brooklyn, NY 1998-2005
Lectures/Academia
Artist Talk, The Joy of Cyanotype, Photography Department, Arcadia University, Philadelphia, PA 2021
Artist Talk, Maitland Art & History Museums, Maitland, FL 2020
Professor of Photography, adjunct, Florida Keys Community College, Key West, FL 2011-2015
Artist Talk, Art Department, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 2012
Artist Talk, Florida International University, Miami, FL 2010
Teacher, Edible Schoolyard with Tricycle Gardens and Peter Paul Center, Richmond, VA 2009
Panel presenter, Mid-America College Art Association, “Whatever it takes”, Indianapolis, IN 2008
Artist Lecture, Photography Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 2008
Bibliography
Sculpture Magazine, Downtown Miami by Laura Albriton, December 2013, with photograph
Key West Citizen, ‘Forget-Me-Not: A Portrait of the Artist Nellie Appleby’ by Cara Canella, Sept 2013
Gurus of the Garden, Belle Magazine, Richmond VA, May 2009
Transita el Arte, El Mural, Guadalajara, Mexico, August 2008
VCU MFA 2007 catalogue, review by Larry Rinder 2007
A Studio of Ones Own, Arts and Sciences Magazine of the University of Virginia, July 2003