Nickolas Carl Hurlbut works primarily with Film Photography and Ceramics. Portraits are printed as Cyanotype, Silver Gelatin, or from Color Film, and deconstruct stereotypes of gender and sexuality. Wheel-thrown forms are often built onto in his ceramic work and used as flamboyant vehicles of queer expression-exploring relationships, sex, and joy. Community outreach is an important part of his work that is often collaborative, expressing experiences beyond his own to give a broader understanding of themes such as masculinity and queerness.
Being born in the Conservative confines of Orange County he fled to Humboldt State for undergrad finding solace in the redwood trees, fog, and stunning coastline. He then spent 13 years in Portland, OR, showing his photography in galleries throughout the Pacific Northwest such as Blue Sky and Lightbox Photographic. After graduating from Lewis and Clark with his Masters in Education he taught high school art for 5 years. His business Sassy Ceramics was created during this time with a focus in creating campy fine art housewares. He also joined the Oregon Potters Association, through which he helped organize their annual event Ceramics Showcase. He has displayed Ceramic work in Radius, Ceramics Northwest, and Side Street Gallery. Nickolas is currently getting his Masters in Fine Art at Washington State University where he continues to work with film photography, ceramics, exploring screen printing, and building community through collaboration.
Education
2027 Master of Fine Arts (In Progress), Interdisciplinary Art, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
2018 Master of Arts in Teaching, Art Endorsement, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR
2013 Bachelor of Arts, Studio Art and Art Education, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
License
2018 Oregon Preliminary Teaching License, Art Endorsement
Selected Awards / Honors / Residencies
2026 -Publicly Engaged Fellow, David G Pollart Center For Arts & Humanities, Pullman, WA
-Teaching Residency, Sou’wester Arts & Ilwaco Artworks, Ilwaco, WA
-Sidney D Siler Graduate Fellowship, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
-GPSA Travel Grant for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Annual
Conference, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
-Allied Arts MFA Scholarship, Allied Arts Association Gallery at the Park, Richland, WA
2025 -John Ludwig Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Fine Arts, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Juried, Group & Solo Exhibitions
2026 -Gender Expression Through Cyanotype, Greystone Grand Gallery, Pullman, WA
-Scholarship Show, Gallery at the Park, Richland, WA
-Unbalanced Intimates, Gallery II, WSU, Pullman, WA
-Gonzaga LGBTQ Leadership Symposium, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
-Something Shiny Show, Locker Gallery, WSU, Pullman, WA
-Ceramics Showcase, Oregon Convention Center Main Gallery, Portland, OR
2025 -7 Mile, Collaborative MFA Exhibition, Gallery III, WSU, Pullman, WA
-Erotica, An Exhibition to Arouse, Salem on the Edge Gallery, Salem, OR
-Ceramics Group Show, Sidestreet Arts Gallery, Portland, OR
-Ceramics Showcase, Oregon Convention Center Main Gallery, Portland, OR
2024 -Ceramics Northwest, Ceramics, Pioneer Square, Portland, OR
-Ceramics Showcase, Oregon Convention Center Main Gallery, Portland, OR
2023 -Wading, Photography, Jailbreak Gallery, Portland, OR
-Radius Pride Gallery Show, Radius Art Studio, Portland, OR, Lightbox Photographic Gallery, Astoria, OR
2019 -The Photographic Nude 2019, Renee Jacobs (juror),
2018 -inSECURITY, Art Show, 37th Annual Gender Studies Symposium, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR
-The Photographic Nude 2018, Christa Blackwood (juror), Lightbox Photographic Gallery, Astoria, OR
2017 -Pacific Northwest Photography Viewing Drawers, Photography, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, OR
2013 -Young Alumni, Photography, First Street Gallery, Eureka, CA
-A.G.E. Senior Show, Photography, Reese Bullen Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
-The Art of Education, Foyer Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
2012 -Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Arthur Gonzalez (juror), Reese Bullen Gallery, Arcata, CA
-Coincidental Cohesion, Umpqua Bank Upstairs Gallery, Arcata, CA
Workshops / Speaking
2026 -Sassy Planters Workshop, Instructor, Ilwaco Artworks, Ilwaco, WA
-Gender Expression Through Cyanotype Workshop Series, organizer, creator, instructor,
David G. Pollart Fellowship, WSU, Pullman, WA
-Invited Guest Lecture, Art 498 Contemporary Issues Seminar, WSU, Pullman, WA
-Invited Guest Lecture, Art 202 World Art History, WSU, Pullman, WA
-Arts Immersion Day, Ceramics Workshop Instructor, WSU, Pullman, WA
-Artist Panel, Something Shiny Show, WSU, Pullman, WA
2024 -Ceramics Showcase Demonstrator, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Curatorial
2026 Gender Expression Through Cyanotype, Greystone Grand Gallery, Pullman, WA
Publications
2026 -Scholarship Show explores human sexuality and connection in photos, by Marisa Quirk, Tumbleweird,
Richland, WA
2025 -But, like when did you know, by Neal Allen Shipley, artwork by Nickolas Carl Hurlbut, Blood Orange Review,
Online Publication
Teaching Experience
2025-2027 -Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2D Art & Design, Beginning Photography,
Washington State University
2019-2025 -High School Art Instructor, Ceramics 1 & 2, Photography 1 & 2, Drawing & Painting,
Milwaukie & Rex Putnam High School, North Clackamas School District, OR
2019 -High School Art Instructor, Photography 1 & 2, Grant High School, Portland, OR
2017-2018 -Teacher Candidate, Ceramics 1, Photography 1 (Digital and Darkroom) and Drawing 2
Southridge High School, Beaverton, OR