Work samples

  • This Exist Somewhere, It Has To.
    "This Exist Somewhere, It Has To."

    Collage

    100"x150"

  • Steve's Car.
    "Steve's Car."

    42"x48"

    Charcoal on Rives

  • When I Think Of Us, I Think Of Hummingbirds.
    "When I Think Of Us, I Think Of Hummingbirds."

    Pigment prints, ink and beads on paper.

    40"x40"

  • Day Dream
    "Day Dream"

    Paintin 2

    oil painting

    20"x38"

About Nova


 Nova Shelley is a native Baltimore visual artist.

She is extremely dyslexic and hates writing about herself.

 She has difficulty communicating and understanding others.

Her work explores the combination of different mediums while creating a visual biography that investigates feminnity, craft, ritual, self care, personal history and sisterhood.

She studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art and graduated with a BFA. She also earned an MA in photography and… more

Jump to a project:

"This Exists Somewhere It Has To."

"This Exist Somewhere It Has To," is a series of works that I created because I just want to see it. It is pure joy and play. Many of the pieces in this series are still working. The works are made from digital images  printed and made into large scale collages. 

 

 

  • This Exist Somewhere, It Has To.
    "This Exist Somewhere, It Has To."

    Pigment print on paper

    100"x150"

  • This Exist Somewhere, It Has to.
    "This Exist Somewhere, It Has to."
  • This Exists Somewhere, It Has To.
    "This Exists Somewhere, It Has To."
  • Ice
    Ice

    Working digital collage

    70"x80"

  • This Exists Somewhere, It Has To.
    "This Exists Somewhere, It Has To."

    working

    Digital Collage

    80"x110"

  • There Is A Bluebird In My Heart.
    "There Is A Bluebird In My Heart."

    working

    Pigment print on paper

    100"x50"

  • Detail-There Is A Bluebird In My Heart.
    Detail-"There Is A Bluebird In My Heart."

    Pigment print on paper

    100"x50"

  • Paradise.
    "Paradise."

    Working Collaged pigment print

    40"x48"

  • detail-Paradise.
    detail-"Paradise."

    detail- collage pigment print on paper

    40"x48"

"Lemons."

"Lemons" is a series that explores the combination of different mediums while creating a visual biography. The works explore femminnity, craft, ritual, selfcare, personal history and sisterhood.

The works are made from collaged pigment prints, bead, ribbon, ink and pencil.

  • When I Think Of Us I Think Of Hummingbirds.
    "When I Think Of Us I Think Of Hummingbirds."

    "When I Think Of Us, I Think Of Hummingbirds."

    32"x32"

    collage pigment prints, bead and ink

  • Detail-When I Think Of Us, I Think Of Hummingbirds.
    Detail-"When I Think Of Us, I Think Of Hummingbirds."

    Detail-"When I Think Of Us, I Think Of Hummingbirds."

    32"x32"

    collage pigment prints, bead and ink

  • I Use Hid Under The Kitchen Table So My Mother Could Not Brush My Hair.
    "I Use Hid Under The Kitchen Table So My Mother Could Not Brush My Hair."

    "I Use Hid Under The Kitchen Table So My Mother Could Not Brush My Hair."

    32"x34"

    Collage pigment print, pencil and ribbon

  • DetailI Use Hid Under The Kitchen Table So My Mother Could Not Brush My Hair.
    Detail"I Use Hid Under The Kitchen Table So My Mother Could Not Brush My Hair."

    Detail"I Use Hid Under The Kitchen Table So My Mother Could Not Brush My Hair."

    32"x34"

    Collage pigment print, pencil and ribbon

  • I Had Earrings Shaped Like Stars.
    "I Had Earrings Shaped Like Stars."

    "I Had Earrings Shaped Like Stars."

    32"x32"

    Collaged Pigment prints,beads and pencil on paper

  • Detail-I Had Earrings Shaped Like Stars.
    Detail-"I Had Earrings Shaped Like Stars."

    Detail-"I Had Earrings Shaped Like Stars."

    32"x32"

    Collaged Pigment prints,beads and pencil on paper

  • Orange Trees Are Mostly Green And Buttercups Smell Like Honey.
    "Orange Trees Are Mostly Green And Buttercups Smell Like Honey."

    "Orange Trees Are Mostly Green And Buttercups Smell Like Honey."

    32"x32"

    Collage pigment print, pencil on paper.

  • Detail-Orange Trees Are Mostly Green And Buttercups Smell Like Honey.
    Detail-"Orange Trees Are Mostly Green And Buttercups Smell Like Honey."

    Detail-"Orange Trees Are Mostly Green And Buttercups Smell Like Honey."

    32"x32"

    Collage pigment print, pencil on paper.

  • I Thought Bandanas Were Cool Because Of The Karate Kid.
    "I Thought Bandanas Were Cool Because Of The Karate Kid."

    "I Thought Bandanas Were Cool Because Of The Karate Kid."

    32"45"

    Collage Pigment print, pencil on paper.

  • "Sleepover"

    Digital collage of video

"1990"

"1990" is a series of drawings that illustrate memories of my childhood friend that I lost to addiction. The work explores female friendships , memory and loss. 

This body of work is the most difficult for me to produce. The subject  is extremely sad and at times paralyzing, but it is something I always circle back to in my practice.  

The work consist of black and white charcoal drawings with the figures simplified in an illustrative style. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Smoking in Steve's Car.
    "Smoking in Steve's Car."

    Charcoal on Rives

    42"x48"

  • Detail-Smoking In The Back Of Steve's Car.
    Detail-"Smoking In The Back Of Steve's Car."

    Charcoal on Rives

    42"x48"

  • Snowy Night.
    "Snowy Night."

    Charcoal on Rives

    18"x22"

  • Friends.
    "Friends."

    Charcoal on Rives

    42"x48"

  • Detail Friends.
    Detail "Friends."

    Charcoal on Rives

    42"x48"

  • Alesha.
    "Alesha."

    Charcoal on Rives

    27"x30"

  • Alesha.
    "Alesha."

    Charcoal on Rives

    27"x30"

  • Kim.
    "Kim."

    Charcoal on Rives

    42"x42"

  • Kim.
    "Kim."

    Charcoal on Rives

    42"x42"

  • Smiling Dog.
    "Smiling Dog."

    Charcoal on Rives

    22"x30"

Painting

This is a very new painting series that I have started. It illustrates this feeling I get. I am not sure what this is yet. Maybe a series of selfportraits.

  • Center Piece.
    "Center Piece."

    Painting 1

    40"x40"

    Oil on canvas

  • Day Dream
    Day Dream

    Painting 2

    Oil on canvas

    24"x30"

  • alternate view_Day Dream
    alternate view_Day Dream

    Alternate view-Painting 2

    Oil on canvas

    24"x30"