ABOUT:
NICOLE SORIANO (she/her)
Nicole Soriano is an interdisciplinary artist from San Diego, California, and a recent graduate from Iowa State University with an MFA in Integrated Visual Arts. Her primary focuses are painting, digital media, photography, and filmmaking. Nicole's current work critically challenges patriarchy by subverting trivializing representations assigned to women by men. Extreme satire becomes an essential tool in flipping these misogynistic narratives in ways that give women power over them. The color red represents passion, danger, rage, and seduction, while the white rabbit symbolizes fertility and becomes a symbol of empowered womanhood. Prey becomes predator. These visual elements work together across her work to create a world that critically reimagines gender and reclaims the space that is often denied to women.
CV:
EDUCATION
2025
MFA, Integrated Visual Arts, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
2021
BA summa cum laude, Arts & Media, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2024-2025
Museum Intern, Farm House Museum, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
2023-2025
Instructor of Record, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Creative Visual Thinking (ARTIS 2010).
2022-2023
Teaching Assistant, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Intro to Visual Culture Studies (ARTH 292), History of Art I (ARTH 280).
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025
TO SERVE MAN, Thesis Exhibition, Iowa State University, College of Design, Gallery 181, Ames, Iowa.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
Focus Grant Exhibition, Iowa State University, Memorial Union Gallery, Ames, Iowa.
Art-Music-Poetry Exhibition, Iowa State University, Memorial Union Gallery, Ames, Iowa.
2024
Studies in Creativity, Iowa State University, Memorial Union Gallery, Ames, Iowa.
Integrated Visual Arts MFA Show, Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa.
2023
Integrated Visual Arts MFA Show, Iowa State University, Gallery 181, College of design, ames, iowa.
Studies in Creativity, Iowa State University, College of Design, Gallery 181, Ames, Iowa.
2022
Studies in Creativity, Iowa State University, Memorial Union Gallery, Ames, Iowa.
Integrated Visual Arts MFA Show, Iowa State University, college of design, gallery 181, ames, iowa.
Studies in Creativity, Iowa State University, Memorial Union Gallery, Ames, Iowa.
FILM EVENTS
2025
Des Moines Underground Film Festival 2025, Varsity Cinema, Des Moines, Iowa.
Iowa City Video Zine Issue 34, Public Space One, Iowa City, Iowa.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2025
artist in residence, mainframe studios, Des Moines, Iowa.
Excellence in Teaching Award, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Honorable Mention, Studies in Creativity exhibition, Memorial Union Gallery, Ames, Iowa.
2023
Purchase Award, Studies in Creativity exhibition, Memorial Union Gallery, Ames, Iowa.
2021
Highest Honors in the Major, University of California, Santa Cruz.
PUBLICATIONS
2025
Arts to Hearts Magazine Issue 10, “Home”, Arts to Hearts Project.
2021
Cover of and contributor to The Wheelbarrow Issue 23, UC Santa Cruz student publication of art and poetry.
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS
2024
Focus Grant ($500), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
COLLECTIONS
2023
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.