Nicci Graves

Nicci Graves Artist Statement: 

I’m a self-taught artist based in Portland, Oregon, working with acrylic ink and powdered earth pigments. My practice grew out of a background in weaving — a hobby I began in the early 2000s.  In 2011 I relocated to San Francisco and no longer had space for my large floor loom, so I turned to painting as a way to continue working with structure, repetition, and material memory even in a cramped apartment. That shift opened up a new language of mark-making that still draws from the rhythm of creating textiles.

My work is grounded in process, texture, and the physicality of materials. Each piece is built through intuitive, layered gestures — abstract yet rooted in something tactile and ancient. I had my first solo show in San Francisco in 2013 and since then I’ve been developing a body of work that speaks to the tension between control and erosion, ritual and accident.

I have been featured on SFMOMAs artist submissions page several times over the years (under Nicci Afdem) In March 2025 I completed my first short artist residency and will return for a full residency and show in 2026. My work is currently featured in the gallery of RentingArt, located in Clichy, France — an ongoing opportunity that connects my work with new collectors internationally.

Shop Nicci's Art and other artists from Mint Gallery here.