Artist finds niche in NYC (and around the world)
When The Bridge last profiled NYC artist Nick Sider ’10 in 2017, a video of his painting process had garnered 7 million views, thanks to a share by rapper 50 Cent. Four years later, Sider has gone global.
“I’m very fortunate to now be selling my artwork to collectors all over the world,” said Sider. “I began a series of lion and tiger paintings in 2017 that has taken off over the last few years and gained a lot of popularity on social media. This allowed me to put on my own solo show in New York City in 2018.”
Things slowed down when the pandemic hit, but he says the past year has been amazing thanks to Galerie Bartoux, a Paris-based gallery with locations all over the world.
“I’ve had the opportunity to show my art in their Manhattan gallery, a goal I set for myself when I moved to New York City in 2014,” he said.
Known for his wildlife paintings, he is also skilled in portraiture. He worked as a caricature artist for several years and says that experience helped him learn to capture the essence of a person through art. During the Syrian refugee crisis, he reached out to an organization that helps refugee families.
“I decided to paint a 5-foot portrait of a refugee girl from Jordan and used it to raise money for the organization,” he said. “Because I had gained some online attention for my paintings, I figured I would start to point that attention toward an important cause.”
For another important cause, he painted a portrait of a young girl in Zambia, which is shown on this magazine’s cover.
“I found her image through the nonprofit CURE International, and she was at one of their hospitals for hydrocephalus,” he said.
Although he majored in Christian ministries at Messiah, he realized after working in the pastoral field that he needed to follow his dream to be a painter. So, he moved to New York City and got serious about painting, learning through trial and error. His hyper-realistic style involves building layers of acrylic paint to showcase God’s creations.
“While I didn’t study art at Messiah, I had a great experience and made some incredible friends that I am still close to today. To any young, aspiring artist, I would say it is very possible to make a living doing what you love,” he said. “It’s not easy, and often takes time, but if you are determined and motivated, you can make it happen. Start sharing your work online and with everyone you know. Most importantly, don’t settle, and go after something you love.”
What’s next for Sider? Through Galerie Bartoux, he hopes to show his work in Miami and Europe. He’s also excited to have his first museum show at the Zillman Art Museum in Bangor, Maine, in the summer of 2022.
— Anna Seip