Nicole Moss is an award-winning collage artist based in Toronto. In 2015, Moss graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
With a life-long dream to be a painter, Moss’ creative interests took a detour when she discovered the world of cut-and-paste collage. She says she was attracted to the artistic style for its unique aesthetic and the way in which ordinary or obtuse images could be superimposed into surreal compositions. Moss also notes the fine craftsmanship and almost surgical precision involved in cut-and-paste collage is one of the aspects she most enjoys about working in this style.
Moss draws artistic inspiration from a sleep disorder she is afflicted with, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnia, which causes heightened dreams, sleep walking and other confusional arousal behaviours. Able to recall her dreams in vivid detail, she channels these nonsensical visions into her collages. The subconscious mind is a theme Moss often explores in her art and has, in-turn, become the young artist’s quasi-calling card.
Echoing a Freudian-like theory about dreams, Moss believes that dreams represent an individual’s unconscious desires, thoughts and motivations. She says it is conscious awareness, however, that hinges individuals and represses the thoughts we store away in the dark, recesses of our minds.
Moss’ dream world, which she enters each night in her sleep, enables her to ‘reflect’ on the truths she seeks in her life. Because of the juxtaposed nature of collage art, it acts as a conduit for Moss to express and explore her subconscious mind.
In each collage, she aims to create a world and narrative to challenge one’s deepest beliefs, thoughts and fears. The themes explored most frequently in her work include relationships, family dynamics, feminine/masculine energy and Western cultural precepts.
Much of the imagery in her collages is collected from vintage magazines and used books and then assembled on to her white wooden panels with traditional cut-and-paste methods. Moss says collaging is an effective medium to present counter-culture and challenging ideas because of the way contrasting images can be pieced together to create contradictory scenes. The arrangement of such diverse images is a romantic process based on what she believes to be objective chance, producing meaningful and mystical insight.
____________________________________
Education
2011-2015 Ontario College of Art and Design University
Toronto, Ontario
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Major: Drawing and Painting
2014-2016 Ontario College of Art and Design University
Toronto, Ontario
Digital Media Skills Certificate
Awards
2018 Finalist - Spectrum Miami Art Fair Competition: Circle Foundation for the Arts
2018 Best of Paper: Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
2016 Best of 2D Media: Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
2016 Free Booth at The Artist Project 2016: Untapped Emerging Artist Competition
2015 Illustration Professional Runner-Up: Creative Quarterly 42
2015 Best Of Drawing and Illustration: Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Publications/Press/Editorial Work
2022 Maclean’s Magazine
Illustration Collage for Katie Underwood’s artcile “Five Ways with Leftovers!”
2021 - 2022 Toronto History Museums and City of Toronto
Digital Awareness Campaign: Digital Collages
2021 Politico Europe
Volume 6, Number 43, 17 December 2020, Illustration of Cover Page
2018 Artworks 2018
Bi-Annual OCADU Alumni Exhibition Catalogue
2018 CBC Arts
20 personal stories about mental health, 1 pop-up poster show
2018 Toronto Star
New subway poster campaign showcases Canadian artists taking aim at mental health stigma
2018 Counterbalance
In person interview/video
2018 Blank Spaces Magazine
Volume 2, Issue 3 March 2018, Cover Page and 4 page article
2018 Aesthetica Magazine
Issue 81 February/March 2018
2017 ARTORONTO
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2017, web article/feature
2017 Novella Magazine
Hot List: Artist, web article/feature
2017 She Does The City
The Artist Project: 3 Women To Watch, web article/interview
2017 Creators Commune
#Creator: Nicole Moss at The Artist Project, web article/interview
Collage Workshops
2022 Pinterest Head Office, Toronto, ON
Pinterest Office Opening Party
Collaborative Projects
2018 Dust of Gods (Apparel)
Collages for 2018 Summer Collection
Collections (Public, Corporate, Private)
2023 Manulife Global Headquarters, Toronto, ON
2018 Tadrissi Studio, Toronto, ON
2017 The Broadview Hotel, Toronto, ON
Charitable Donations of Artwork for Auctions
2016 Fundraiser of "The New Mom Project", Toronto, ON
Yellow House Gallery Presents "Grow Up and Give" Art Party
2016 Children's Aid Foundation of Canada Gala, Toronto, ON
Mentor Experience
2017 Art Encounters Program, Toronto, ON
Supported by Ontario Arts Council
Solo Exhibitions
2015 Ben Navaee Gallery, Toronto, ON
Altered Narrative
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 TOAF60 at Stackt Market, Toronto, ON
Stackt Market
2021 Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
Online Exhibition
2021 Artist Project Online Exhibition Series
When I Close my Eyes
2020 OSA 147th Annual Open Juried Art Exhibition
Online Exhibition
2020 Mtl En Arts V2.0 Festival
Online Art Festival
2020 Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga, ON
VAM’s 42nd Annual Juried Show
2019 Mad Ones Gallery, Toronto, ON
Group Show
2019 The Artist Project 2019, Toronto, ON
Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
2018 OCAD University Bi-Annual Alumni Exhibition, Toronto, ON
Artworks 2018
2018 “Life on the Line” Launch Event, Toronto, ON
NO Foundation
2018 Emerging Artist Exhibition Presented by Ontario Society of Artists, Etobicoke, ON
Neilson Park Creative Centre
2018 Arta Gallery, Toronto, ON
Icons Group Show
2018 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
Nathan Phillips Square
2018 The Artist Project 2018, Toronto, ON
Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
2017 Art Hub Gallery, Toronto, ON
Cross-Breeds: An Exhibition of Collage, Mixed-Media, and Other Hybrids
2017 Red Head Gallery, Toronto, ON
Nuit Blanche - Who Are You? Salon Soiree
2017 Artfest Toronto, Toronto, ON
The Distillery Historic District
2017 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
Nathan Phillips Square
2017 The Artist Project 2017, Toronto, ON
Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
2016 Yellow House Gallery, Toronto, ON
We Are All Precious Snowflakes: Holiday Exhibition
2016 Yogathetix, Toronto, ON
Collages by Nicole Moss & Maria A. Vassiliou
2016 Super Wonder Gallery, Toronto, ON
MUSE 2016 - A Representational Art Exhibition
2016 Artfest Toronto, Toronto, ON
The Distillery Historic District
2016 The Mod Club, Toronto, ON
RAW: Toronto Presents Verve
2016 Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora, ON
Agape Me: A Contemporary Lens on Love & Marriage
2016 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
Nathan Phillips Square
2016 Dylan Ellis Gallery, Toronto, ON
Catalyst
2016 Nature's Millworks, Paisley, ON
Catch the Wave of Art
2016 Art Gallery of Burlington, Toronto, ON
38th Annual Art Auction
2016 Yellow House Gallery, Toronto, ON
Grow Up and Give Art Party: The New Mom Project Fundraiser
2016 Yellow House Gallery, Toronto, ON
Second Wave: Yellow House Gallery's Anniversary Exhibition and Birthday Bash
2016 Propeller Gallery, Toronto, ON
Come Together, curated by Barbara Astman
2016 The Artist Project 2016: UNTAPPED Emerging Artists Competition, Toronto, ON
Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
2016 OCAD University, Toronto, ON
The Big Draw
2015 Ben Navaee Gallery, Toronto, ON
Black and White 2015
2015 Yellow House Gallery, Toronto, ON
We Are All Precious Snowflakes: Holiday Exhibition
2015 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
Nathan Phillips Square
2015 Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Facility, Mississauga, ON
Experiencing Perspectives 2015-2016
2015 Office of Continuing Studies at OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Mirrors and Lenses
2015 OCAD University, Toronto, ON
OCAD University 100th Annual Graduate Exhibition
2015 Moniker Gallery, Toronto, ON
Deeply Disturbed
2015 OCAD University, Toronto, ON
2014/2015 Fourth Year Awards & Medals Jury
2014 OCAD University, Toronto, ON
The Big Draw
2014 OCAD Open Gallery, Toronto, ON
OCAD Popped