Nelly Kazenbroot is an artist, writer and illustrator living in British Columbia on Vancouver Island. Nelly has published and won awards for adult poetry and children’s chapter books. She has also been chosen as a finalist in multiple national and international art competitions, including for Art Olympia in Tokyo and for Canada’s National Portrait contest, The Kingston Prize. She was the 2016 Grand Prize Winner in AIRE, the annual international representational show at the FCA Art Gallery, in Vancouver. She was educated at the University of Victoria and Malaspina College, but is largely a self-taught artist.
Artist Statement
I began my career as a realist, but I quickly discovered that a more unique combination of elements could provide a deeper insight into our everyday world and the people who inhabit it. Reality remained a reference point, but it was no longer the end goal. My paintings grew in depth and scope as I began combining opposites: 2-dimensional backgrounds compliment 3-dimensional foregrounds, realistic imagery enriches the fantastic, and historical inspiration imbues contemporary subject matter with richness and imagination. As I move forward, sculptural and structural elements are entering my creative process, as is assemblage art. Rather than resist change and reproduce the same art over and over again, I embrace evolution. In this way, I feel I might continue to have something relevant to say in our constantly changing world.
Education
Courses in design, drafting and fine arts at Malaspina College (now called Vancouver Island University). Full-time study in creative writing, fine arts and sociology at the University of Victoria.
Exhibitions
Awards and Honours
Publications, with My Illustrations
Periodical and Anthology Publications
Lyrics
Artist Statement
I began my career as a realist, but I quickly discovered that a more unique combination of elements could provide a deeper insight into our everyday world and the people who inhabit it. Reality remained a reference point, but it was no longer the end goal. My paintings grew in depth and scope as I began combining opposites: 2-dimensional backgrounds compliment 3-dimensional foregrounds, realistic imagery enriches the fantastic, and historical inspiration imbues contemporary subject matter with richness and imagination. As I move forward, sculptural and structural elements are entering my creative process, as is assemblage art. Rather than resist change and reproduce the same art over and over again, I embrace evolution. In this way, I feel I might continue to have something relevant to say in our constantly changing world.
Education
Courses in design, drafting and fine arts at Malaspina College (now called Vancouver Island University). Full-time study in creative writing, fine arts and sociology at the University of Victoria.
Exhibitions
- Social Distancing Exhibition, FCA Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C. 2020
- AIRE, FCA Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C., 2019
- Painting on The Edge, FCA Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C., 2019
- AIRE, FCA Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C., 2018
- Island Masters, Lantzville Art Gallery, Summer 2017
- 150 My Canada, National Juried Art Show, The Old Schoolhouse Art Centre, Qualicum Beach, B.C., 2017
- AIRE, FCA Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C., 2016
- AIRE, FCA Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C., 2015
- Painting on the Edge, FCA Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, 2015
- Art Olympia, Tokyo, 2015
- Kingston Prize Exhibition, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB, 2013
- Kingston Prize Exhibition, Firehall Theatre, Gananoque, Ontario, 2013
- Mystery Art Show, Juried Show of 40 artists, The Red Art Gallery, Victoria, BC, 2013
- Solo Exhibition, “Alchemy”, Old School House Arts Centre, Qualicum, BC, 2012
- Mystery Art Show, Juried Show of 40 artists, The Red Art Gallery, Victoria, BC, 2012
- Art for Wildlife Exhibition/Silent Auction, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo, BC, 2012
- Feature artist exhibition at Nanaimo Art Gallery, BC, 2011
- Art for Wildlife Exhibition/Silent Auction, Nanaimo Art Gallery, BC, 2011
- Small Works Christmas Show, Artfitterz, Nanaimo, BC, 2010
- H’Arts for the Homeless, The Roundhouse, Yaletown, Vancouver, BC, 2010
- National Winter Juried Art Show, Old School House Arts Centre, Qualicum Beach, BC, 2010
- Kingston Prize Exhibition, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB, 2010
- Kingston Prize Exhibition, Waddington’s Auction Rooms, Toronto, ON, 2010
- Kingston Prize Exhibition, Acadia University Art Gallery, Wolfville, NS, 2009
- Kingston Prize Exhibition, Grand Theatre, Kingston, On, 2009
- Fall Juried Show, Nanaimo FCA, Nanaimo Art Gallery, 2009
- “Stone, Letter, Bird” Exhibition, FCA Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, 2009
- Nanaimo FCA Spring Showcase juried group show, 2009
Awards and Honours
- Honorable Mention in Art Olympia, Tokyo, 2019
- Grand Prize Winner, AIRS, Open International FCA Competition, Vancouver, B.C., 2016
- Juried into AIRS, Open International FCA Competition, Vancouver, B.C. 2015
- Juried into the Painting on the Edge, Open International FCA Competition, Vancouver, B.C. 2015
- Finalist in Art Olympia, Tokyo, 2015
- Finalist in The Kingston Prize, Canada's National Portrait Competition, 2013
- Juried into the Painting on the Edge, Open International Juried Competition, Vancouer, B.C. 2011
- Juried into The National Winter Juried Art Show, The Old Schoolhouse Arts Centre, Qualicum Beach 2010
- Finalist in The Kingston Prize, Canada’s National Portrait Competition, 2009
- Children’s Book Centre OUR CHOICE nomination for Down the Chimney with Googol and Googolplex, 2005
Publications, with My Illustrations
- Over the Rainbow with Googol and Googolplex (illustrations and text; early reader chapter book), 64pp. Victoria, B. C, Canada: Orca Book Publishers, 2006
- Under the Sea with Googol and Googolplex (illustrations and text; early reader chapter book), 64pp. Victoria, B. C.: Orca Book Publishers, 2005
- Down the Chimney with Googol and Googolplex (illustrations and text, early reader chapter book) 64pp. Victoria, B. C.: Orca Book Publishers, 2004
- Oil painting: "Tikki and Friend" on cover of my book Wild Life (poems,) 78pp. Windsor, Ont.: Netherlandic Press, 1995
- Acrylic painting: "Oracle" on cover of Stephen Guppy’s book of poems, Understanding Heaven, Toronto, Ont.; Wolsack & Wynn, 2002
Periodical and Anthology Publications
- ("When You Wear Clothes") in Writing and Workshopping Poetry, Broadview Press, November 2016
- "Little Bird" (poem), Grain, Summer 1992, 20:2
- "When You Wear Clothes" (poem), Prism, Winter 1993, 31:2
- "Horses", "House", "Road Kill" (poems), Poetry Canada, 1994, 14:3
- "Weeds" (poem), Dandelion, 1993, 20:2
- "Qualicum Beach", "Sick" (poems), Antigonish Review, 1994, No.96
- "Hard Labour", (poem), University of Windsor Review, Spring 1995, 28:1
- "Church Wedding", "Driving Blind", (poems), Whetstone, Spring 1994
- Scaling the Face of Reason (Poetry Anthology). Toronto: Canadian Chamber of Poetry, 1994.
Lyrics
- "Six Days Singing". (Lyrics for choral music by Patrick Carpenter). Nanaimo Youth Choir under the direction of Marian Smith. June, 1996.
- "Elementals". (Lyrics for choral music by Patrick Carpenter.) Performed by A Cappella Plus in Nanaimo, B.C. May, 2001.