Ken Nicol is an artist based in Toronto, Ontario.
Ken’s work is marked by an obsession with collecting and turning everyday objects into works of art. He creates objects from start to finish by mundane repetition over countless hours. His process is methodical, laborious, and time consuming. The diverse materials he uses range from small dead bugs collected from his studio’s window, to grid paper, chewed matches and… sprinkles? Elements of his work include drawing, typing, metalwork, index cards, coffee cups, and improbable objects such as potato chips or salt packets.
Ken’s work has been featured both nationally and internationally; notable solo and group exhibitions have been held at Arsenal Contemporary Art (New York, NY), Gallery Stratford (Stratford, ON), Art Yard (Frenchtown, NJ), Kenderdine Art Gallery (Saskatoon, SK), The Rooms (St. John’s, NB), and The Power Plant (Toronto, ON). He is represented by Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto, ON.
Exhibitions
- 2024
seemed like a good idea at the time
2024Art Toronto 2024
2024Summer Group Exhibition
2024Winter Group Exhibition
2023Pattern Play
202350th Anniversary Group Show
2021ironic mile of irony
2021Starting Over...Again
2020Art Toronto 2020
2020The New Normal
News Stories
Available Artworks
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[m]ultiple, 2024
Ken Nicolletterpress print, steel, aluminum shelf, 12.5 x 10.25" frame (each), 4" x 6" shelf, ed. of 25
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numbers as many as they are
Ken Nicolpencil on paper, steel, custom plinth, 10.5" x 10.5" framed (each), 53.25" x 10" x 10" plinth
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Iodized salt count - 11,328
Ken Nicolsalt packet, glass vial, stainless steel mount, 13" x 10" x 2.5" framed
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Iodized salt count - 11,673
Ken Nicolsalt packet, glass vial, stainless steel mount, 13" x 10" x 2.5" framed
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This is your life...video, ed. 1/3
Ken Nicol8hr video, typewritten ink on paper 31.5" x 21.5" framed (each)
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - red/red, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - red/yellow, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - red/blue, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - red/black, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - yellow/red, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - yellow/yellow, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - yellow/blue, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - yellow/black, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - blue/red, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - blue/yellow, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - blue/black, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - black/red, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - black/yellow, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - black/blue, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - black/black, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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clusterfuck gradations - 5760, 1/16 grid - yellow, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 11.5" x 14.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 6912, tiny - yellow, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 11.5" x 11.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 10,800, small - yellow, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 16.5" x 16.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 14,200, small (inverse) - yellow, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 16.5" x 16.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 14,200, small (inverse) - blue, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 16.5" x 16.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 10,800, small - black, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 16.5" x 16.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 14,200, small (inverse) - black, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 16.5" x 16.5" framed
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this is your life (diptych) #47 (wednesday), 2015/2017
Ken Nicoltypewriter ink on paper, ink on paper 31.5" x 21.5" - each
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sol lewitt sentences mirror 3, 2019
Ken Nicolink and typewrtten ink on paper, 22" x 17" paper / 25.5” x 20.5” framed
the most index cards trying to hide on letter sized paper, 2019
Ken Nicolpencil on paper 14” x 11.5”
$10,000 promise , 2014-17
Ken Nicolcollected cheques, ink on paper, bottle (4-part) dimensions variable
flogging a dead horse #10, 2013
Ken Nicolink on paper (3 parts); pen, custom plinth dimensions variable
14,774 sprinkles (1712 pink, 1731 green, 1758 yellow, 1788 red, 5964 white,1821 orange), 2017
Ken Nicolsprinkles, custom plinth, framed print (2-part) dimensions variable
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one hundred of the same clock, 2015
Ken Nicol100 westclox baby bens, model 61v (1949-1955) 21.5” x 80”
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sentences on conceptual art - four part, 2016
Ken Nicolink on paper and typewriter ink on paper 8.5” x 11” paper each
two index cards that don’t like each other trying to hide on a letter page, 2019
Ken Nicolink on paper 14.5” x 12”
misprinted index cards and diagram, 2009/2019
Ken Nicolindex cards and pencil on paper 13.5” x 16” - each
