Nancy Albertson

nan@nanalbertson.com

Artist's Statement

Nan Albertson's career as an artist spans over thirty-five years. She is best known for her work in handmade paper and large-scale fiber pieces. Albertson spent her childhood in Michigan, earning a BFA with Distinction from Western Michigan University. Following, she earned an MFA from Syracuse University where she was also selected as a teaching fellow. After graduate school, she joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina, where she created their fiber arts program, which included a comprehensive papermaking area. Moving to Penland, N.C. five years later, allowed her the freedom to pursue her studio work fulltime. During the studio years which followed, Albertson received many commissions for major projects among which included IBM, Marriott Properties, Sheraton Hotels, Hyatt Regency Hotels, Price Waterhouse, Fugua Industries, Cox Cable Corporation, NationsBank, American Financial Corporation and numerous private collections. Albertson later moved to Winston-Salem, N.C. and then to Atlanta in 1996, where she now lives and works.

Albertson's current work in photography and botanical watercolor has evolved naturally from her love of paper, the book arts and her passionate relationship with plants and nature. Her recent photographic work includes her first limited edition book, Nature, a selection of her prose and photography. Albertson’s other recent photographic work is an ongoing project portfolio titled, "Ground Notes." Each work contains a single word definition and is paired with a selected photographic landscape image. This series explores the concept of 'place' in one's inner life through the relationships with self and others, while experiencing the outer metaphoric aspects of nature.

This reoccurring theme is present in another recent body of work, "The Poppy Series." Albertson continues to develop new botanical images in both photography and watercolor, and in both, she strives to produce artistic work which maintains the highest possible archival standards. She is planning more landscape studies in the Rocky Mountains later this year while spending time at the Yellowstone Institute. As Albertson pursues her various studio endeavors, it is her search for personal meaning through observation and the exploration of metaphors between nature, herself and humankind which holds her in wonder, in the wisdom of the moment, and provides the center from which she creates.

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Selected Resume

Vitals 
Born:  Detroit, Michigan 1949
BFA:  Western Michigan University 1975 with Distinction
MFA:  Syracuse University 1977 - Ford Foundation Recipient
MAT:  Salem College 1995


Experience
Syracuse University:  Freshman Design 1975-1977, Teaching Fellow
University of South Carolina at Columbia:  Assistant Professor in Fiber and Design 1977-1982
Penland School of Crafts:  Fiber & Paper Workshops 1978-1988
Forsyth County Public School System:  Elementary Education 1991-1995
Numerous Workshops in Papermaking, Fiber Arts
Full Time Studio Artist: Since 1982

Selected Collections and Commissions(*)
SAS Institute: Cary, North Carolina*
Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel: San Diego, California*
American  Financial Corporation: Cincinnati, Ohio 
Nations Bank Headquarters: New York, New York 
Steelcase Corporation: Charlotte, North Carolina*
Hanes Corporation: Winston-Salem, North Carolina 
North Carolina School of the Arts: Winston-Salem, North Carolina 
Duke Power Corporation: Charlotte, North Carolina*
Price Waterhouse Executive Offices: Orlando, Florida*
Wachovia Bank and Trust: Winston-Salem, North Carolina 
University Hilton: Charlotte, North Carolina*
Tremark Hilton: Charlotte, North Carolina 
Duke University Medical Center: Durham, North Carolina 
Marriott Properties: Orlando, Florida*
The Lowe Corporation: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 
Sheraton Hotel, Meadowlands Complex: Rutherford, New Jersey*
IBM: Charlotte, North Carolina*
Sheraton Hotel: Scottsdale, Arizona*
Home Federal: San Diego, California*
Fugua Industries: Atlanta, Georgia
Marriott Marquis Hotel: Atlanta, Georgia*
Rexham Corporation: Charlotte, North Carolina*
IBM: Boca Raton, Florida 1984*
American Federal Bank: Greenville, South Carolina*
Sheraton Hotel: San Diego, California*
Hartford Insurance Company: Hartford, Connecticut*
Branch Banking and Trust Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina
Bank of the South: Atlanta, Georgia
IBM: Atlanta, Georgia*
Cox Cable Corporation: Atlanta, Georgia
University of South Carolina: Columbia, South Carolina 
IBM: Charlotte, North Carolina*
Hyatt Regency Hotel: Atlanta, Georgia*
Hyatt Regency Hotel: Greenville, North Carolina*
Columbia Museums: Columbia, South Carolina 
South Carolina State Arts Collection: Columbia, South Carolina 
Western Michigan University Collection: Kalamazoo, Michigan 
Numerous Private Collections

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