Brigitte Nioche

Several years ago, after a multi-decade career in fashion and home design, Brigitte Nioche, a long-time Upper West Side New Yorker with a passion for precious antiques and nature, fulfilled her lifelong dream to be an artist. The magic of colors, textures, and different shapes — even shards of broken china — have always fascinated her. Her focus now is on creating a mosaic of unique art work—collage, mixed media, and paintings. Her paintings are a vivid, expressive series she calls My Family of Funny Faces.

"My philosophy and the reason I create these pieces reflect the teeming world of nature, and of a time gone by," she says. "And when it comes to collage, I love the endless opportunities it offers to tell a story: a story of the many facets of life.”

"The gift of being an artist is challenging and rewarding," she continues. "Challenging because it does not allow one to hide; it asks us to expose our soul and let the world see our heart. And the reward comes when we, the artist, feel that what we create is completing, and confirming, who we are."

"Acknowledgement from the world is a plus, of course, but will never replace the satisfaction an artist feels when bonding with a created work."

Brigitte Nioche's background is as wide-ranging as her work. Born in Germany, raised there and in Australia, she made her way to France. After attending fashion schools in Sydney and Paris, she arrived in the United States and opened a women's fashion boutique and an image consulting business in New York City.

Then for twenty-five years, she owned and directed a design studio serving the home furnishings and apparel markets in New York. After selling her business, she attended the Art Students League of New York.

Her experience of being involved with the art and design world for so many years became the foundation of her being an artist.