An intimate talk about her sanctuary, her characters, and the colors shaping Houston’s next chapter.
Inside The Sanctuary
Describe your studio right now. What’s on the walls, on the floor, in progress.
My studio is my own space at home currently, I would love to get a studio one day but I find comfort where I create currently. As of now, I have a Tame Impala poster and like 6 art prints of my previous artwork from the earlier years on my walls. The floor I did have my rug of this art piece I had sold which was one of my favorites ever but now it is a custom “SUPER COOL” table a childhood friend had created for me.
What’s the last thing you painted before this conversation?
I’m actually laughing because the piece I just painted was this woodwork that is going to be presented at my upcoming event. I think we chatted about it.
When someone walks into your studio for the first time, what do you want them to feel?
I want them to feel like this is purely “Nel’s Sanctuary” and to treat it as such.
Missouri City Dreams
Where did you grow up and what was your first memory of making art?
I grew up in Missouri City, a very suburban area south of Houston. Man, my first memory of making art would have to be with my grandfather Charles with him showing me how to draw particular objects following the steps with an artbook.
Do you remember the first time you saw a piece of art that made you think “I want to do that”?
Not necessarily, I just enjoyed drawing at a young age.
Who was the first person to tell you your art was good — and did you believe them?
Dude, that is such a good question and honestly I have no memory of who did (haha) maybe it was myself though.
Was there a moment you realized you saw the world differently from other people?
I believe once I started looking around my environment and my mind started creating faces or familiar things within objects.
The Birth of NELXART
When did you start painting in the style you’re known for now?
Maybe like my senior year of college, I feel like my style was transforming around that time that identified “NELXART.” Now you can identify by how I draw the mouth of my characters.
What do the characters in your work represent to you?
You know, I never thought about what my characters represented to me prior to “SUPER COOL” — I just thought they were cool doodles I brought to life.
How do you choose your color palette, or does it choose you?
They choose me (hahaha).
Do you remember the first time you signed your name on a piece and thought, “this is me now”?
Back in college I painted something for a friend and signed it but I did not get that feeling of “this is me now” til around 2021 when I began to get collectors in different parts of the country.
Breaking the Door Down
What was your first show or public display of your work?
2018 at Superb Studios with the guys at Sanman (Seth and Steven) before they even had a facility to make their headquarters then ironically years later my first solo exhibition was with them that I really felt like broke myself into the full art scene.
Tell me about a moment early on when you thought you might not make it and how you kept going.
The moment(s) I really felt like giving up was 2023, I was preparing for my solo getting everything together but I was sitting on so many things and also feeling like I wasn’t taken seriously. Though constant thoughts of doubt were present I reverted back to when I played sports with the mentality of “keep going.” You know when you play sports you go through training with weights and diet which isn’t easy, getting your mind prepped for a game is all one big process. So, I viewed the situation like that which motivated me to continue – creating that tough mentality once again.
Who in Houston first championed your work?
Myself.
Everything in Color
Which project or collaboration changed your career the most?
My solo exhibition definitely impacted my career the most.
How did “EVERYTHING IN COLOR” come together?
Literally, feeling like I was ready for my first solo exhibition. I knew I was going to present my character (“SUPER COOL”) for the first time, I had all of this artwork I was creating, and collectible items. The name came about due to me looking at my past/present work that I was completing at the time. I love color, I love the selection of colors I use for my paintings, and then it just made sense to name the exhibition “EVERYTHING IN COLOR.”
What did working on Nike × NBHD or “Black Future in Technicolor” teach you?
Working with SWA Group and Nike really did not teach me anything but just confirmed my statement of “someone is always watching.” Like no matter if you feel like your numbers are not there or if they are – someone is paying attention to the things that you are doing.
Rituals and Process
Walk me through the first hour of your day when you’re painting.
Laying out a plastic sheet, placing the canvas on either my easel or on the floor, get my airplay going with tunes or I might have youtube going just to have some extra motion in the background. My paint that I will be using is on my super cool table then I just get to it.
How do you know a piece is finished?
Once all the colors I wanted to incorporate are painted.
Do you sketch everything first or go straight to canvas?
I am a sketcher although I have done some work where it is just straight to canvas.
Have you ever destroyed a piece because it didn’t feel right?
Maybe in my earlier days of painting but not recently at all actually.
Outside the Frame
What do you do when you’re not making art?
Just live life: hanging with family, friends, trying new restaurants, taking trips, going to galleries/museums, shopping, etc.
Who are you when you’re not in the studio?
Shanel (haha).
Is there a song, movie, or book that feels like it understands you better than most people do?
“Life Worth Living” by Majid Jordan.
Timeline in Motion
If we put your career on a timeline, what are the three years that mean the most to you, and why?
2023-2025, simply because there was a lot of character development within myself and my craft.
What’s the most pivotal decision you’ve made as an artist?
Not giving up on myself.
Next Five Years
Where do you want your work to live in five years?
I want it to live in places where it is most loved and appreciated.
What’s a dream project you haven’t told anyone about yet?
I think everyone close to me knows, I have wanted a shoe collaboration – always have since a kid.
What’s a goal so big it scares you?
None, go big or go home !
If you could collaborate with anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Pharrell, only because he’s been the coolest since I first discovered him back as a kid. From BBC, Neptunes, seeing him everywhere – he was always such a dope inspiration to me. Most importantly, I know he gets it.
Reflections
What does success look like for you today?
Accomplishing everything that I said I would do and seeing the results from that.
If you could go back to your younger self starting out, what would you tell them?
I would tell little Nel “all the things that are to come your way are to prepare you for the women you are meant to be and you will end up loving who you become, just wait.”
What’s something you’ve made that you’ve never shown anyone?
I am not sure actually, wait no some unreleased clothes design I have in my closet. Years back I made several things with my former manufacturer but never released them.
What’s a fear that still drives you?
Sitting on ideas and never seeing the outcome from not displaying my work. Can you imagine? No? Me either.
If your art could speak, what would it say about you?
If my artwork could be it would state that I am just a woman that makes smooth cool creations with vibrant color.
Nel’s event marks a turning point, a moment where her work leaves the walls it was built within and takes its place on a larger stage. The pieces carry her story, rooted in Missouri City yet written now for Houston and beyond. This is the beginning of a wider conversation, and the best way to follow it is through her own words and updates on Instagram.@nelxart
