nice; 03 ∙
nice; 03 ∙
nice;03 is our third annual contemporary art exhibition
juried by Midwest Nice Art co-founders Epiphany Knedler + Tim Rickett.
nice;03 is the third annual national juried exhibition, a survey of contemporary artists exploring complex personal and social narratives. The exhibition assembles over thirty artists from across the nation working in various mediums and concepts, selected from over four hundred submissions. These artists each share a unique vision of our contemporary world.
Each nice exhibition is an open call without a dedicated theme. While we cannot predict what artists will explore, seeing the works together creates new narratives. This exhibition explores themes of memory, mythology, and materiality. The works explore personal connections through family or found photographs, memorabilia, and the self; stories of the past through tradition and folklore; and the material through medium experimentation and associations. nice;03 is just a snapshot of the complex and authentic narratives in contemporary art.
Artists included are:
Aaron Cowan, Alex Renbarger, Alisa Sozonyk, Caitlin Pisha, Cori Matyas, Dillon Bryant, Donald Depuydt, Duncan Madaris Hill, Elise Wojtowicz, Erin Karsten, Haley Prestifilippo, Isadora Hale, Jacob Olsen, Jane Waggoner Deschner, Jason Cytacki, Jeannine Spooner Kitzhaber, Jeff Smudde, Jeremy Starn, Joe Johnson, John A. Schwab, Juniper Winn, Lily Smith, Megan Wolfkill, Michael Aasness, Michelle Kuehn, Morgan Lutz, Pamela Sherlock, Patty deGrandpre, Quinn Ward, Rebekah Alviani, Robert Matejcek, Rogério Pinto, Sabrina Skinner, Theo Gins, Threshold Lab Team: Amo Zeng, Ziwei Ji, Xiesiyuan Shu, Yuqing Zhang, Bingyi Liu, Timothy Anderson, Zac Benson
Congrats to our awardees!
first place: Jason Cytacki, Ouroboros
second place: Haley Prestifilippo, Hang Down Your Head (And Cry)
third place: aaron cowan, The Right Tool For the Job
honorable mentions: Isadora Hale, Run, Rabbit Run, Rogério Pinto, Relicário (Reliquary); Sabrina Skinner, The Same Boy I Used To Be; Lily Smith, dress up; Quinn Ward, My Sister and Moochie
Cee cee’s gallery exhibition award: Robert Matejcek, Run Boy Run




















Sabrina Skinner, "The Same Boy I Used To Be", ceramic wall sculpture, 2025
Quinn Ward, "My Sister and Moochie", oil on shaped canvas panel, 2025, www.quinnward.art
Aaron Cowan, "The Right Tool For the Job", wood, found pegboard, modified flathead screwdriver, 2024, www.aaroncowan.net
Morgan Lutz, "Rhinestone Cowboy", oil on canvas, 2025
Michael Aasness, "Reflections Through the Shadows", Acrylic on Oak Panel, 2022
Pamela Sherlock, "A Necessary Disturbance", archival pigment print, 2025
Cori Matyas, "Sea Level Rise Antarctica", stoneware and heat lamp, 2025, https://corimatyas.wixsite.com/sculpture
Cori Matyas, "Sea Level Rise Antarctica", stoneware and heat lamp, 2025, https://corimatyas.wixsite.com/sculpture
Jeff Smudde, "McLean County, IL", Giclee Print, 2023, jeffsmudde.com
Juniper Winn, "Protein Thoughts Packed in 100% Olive Oil", Acrylic on Wood, 2024, https://juniwinn.wixsite.com/juniperteeth
Jason Cytacki, "Janus", Graphite on Paper, 2024, www.jasoncytacki.com
Rogério Pinto, "Relicário (Reliquary)", Assemblage: metal, inkjet print, fabric, hair, mirror, plastic, 2021, https://www.rogeriompinto.com/
Rogério Pinto, "Relicário (Reliquary)", Assemblage: metal, inkjet print, fabric, hair, mirror, plastic, 2021, https://www.rogeriompinto.com/
Rebekah Alviani, "The Greens", Polaroid emulsion lift on watercolor paper, 2023, https://www.alvianiphotography.com/
Donald Depuydt, "Land With Ease", intaglio print, 2023
Robert Matejcek, "A Place Without Magic (Circles)", Acrylic on MDF/Hardboard, 2024, robertmatejcek.com
Jeremy Starn, "Resurrected Tree II", photo transfer on metal plate with shellac, resin, tar, 2025, www.jeremystarn.com
Jane Waggoner Deschner, "from the recto:verso series (Hamish)", hand-stitched found photograph, 2025, www.janedeschner.com
Jacob Olsen, "Dead Branches 1", Gelatin Silver Print, 2025, https://www.jacob-olsen.com/
Elise Wojtowicz, "Heaven floods at sunset", Inkjet print matted with ditch-dyed cloth, 2024, elisewojtowicz.site
Patty deGrandpre, "From the Ground Up #18 (diptych)", block printing ink, digital inkjet on photo paper, 2025, pattydegrandpre.com
Lily Smith, "dress up", oil on canvas, 2024, badgirllily.net
Caitlin Pisha, "Star Gazer", Gouache on Clay, 2024, caitlinpishaart.com
Michelle Kuehn, "milky way", colored pencil, 2024, mkuehn.art
Isadora Hale, "Run, Rabbit Run", Acrylic on Canvas, 2024, www.artbyisadora.com
Alisa Sozonyk, "The Past of the Present", Oil on canvas, 2025
Erin Karsten, "The Front Lines", Archival Pigment Print, 2025, www.erinkarstenart.com
Theo Gins, "As Rats Would Have It", Acrylic paint on wood, 2024, https://tbabb20.wixsite.com/portfolio
Duncan Madaris Hill, "Hollywood Shadow", Archival Pigment Print, 2024, www.duncanhillphoto.com
Jason Cytacki, "Gather", Oil on Linen, 2024, www.jasoncytacki.com
Robert Matejcek, "Maelstrom (Salt, Wounds)", Acrylic on MDF/Hardboard, 2025, robertmatejcek.com
Joe Johnson, "Hill and Path", Archival Pigment Print from 35mm negative, 2024, joejohnsonprojects.com
Aaron Cowan, "Zugzwang", modified thrifted catcher's mitt, 2023, www.aaroncowan.net
Dillon Bryant, "west river (shame lies on the eyelids)", photomontage, 2025, dbryantstudio.com
Patty deGrandpre, "From the Ground Up, Push", block printing ink and digital inkjet on photo paper, 2025, pattydegrandpre.com
Jason Cytacki, "Ouroboros", Oil on Linen, 2024, www.jasoncytacki.com
Megan Wolfkill, "Interior Kaleidoscope", Flashe, oil pastel, and graphite on canvas, 2024, www.meganwolfkill.com
Robert Matejcek, "Run Boy Run", Acrylic on MDF/Hardboard, 2025, robertmatejcek.com
Morgan Lutz, "All Around Cowboy", oil on canvas, 2025
Haley Prestifilippo, "Hang Down Your Head (And Cry)", graphite on paper, the artist's hair, 2024, haleyprestifilippo.com
Alex Renbarger, "Torched", oil on canvas, 2025, isbd.github.io/alexrenbarger
Jeannine Spooner Kitzhaber, "Crossroads", Mixed Media/Assemblage, 2025, https://www.jspoonerkitz.com/
Michelle Kuehn, "fanta", colored pencil, 2025, mkuehn.art
Zac Benson, "I'm With You to the End", Church pew fabric and foam, 2020, www.zacbenson.com
Timothy Anderson, Partner, Single-channel video, 2024, timothyjosephanderson.com
John Schwab, Death of the Artist, film, 2025, cottonschwabby.com
Threshold Lab Team: Amo Zeng, Ziwei Ji, Xiesiyuan Shu, Yuqing Zhang, Bingyi Liu, Sweat for Generation, video, 2025