Nick Osetek is a tattooer, illustrator, and printmaker currently working in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina. He received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in 2016 from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina with a concentration in studio art and advanced printmaking. The 2 years following his degree, he taught woodshop foundations to incoming art students at Appalachian State, then completed a 6-month, sustainable printmaking internship at Zea Mays Printmaking in Florence, Massachusetts.

Former helicopter mechanic and engineering technician, Osetek holds an appreciation for technique, process-involved mediums, and displays a meticulous sense of detail in his work. From illustration and film photography to wood and metal fabrication, the scope of his work covers an expanse of mediums but his focus lies in traditional works on paper; specifically graphite, ink, and print.

Mechanically-minded, Osetek has an affinity for the machines and equipment involved in the creative process. From simple tool repair to full tear-down restorations, his process feeds off of his ability to self-maintain his creative environment. By applying his DIY, fix-em-up attitude and skillset to his creative outlets, he creates a smooth-running, self-reliant workspace and breathes new life into old tools by transforming them into unique, functional works of art. Examples include “press-torations” of a 1949 Vandercook 4 letterpress for Zea Mays Printmaking, a 1960’s Dickerson Combination press mounted to an early 1900’s morgue cart, and most notably, a custom table-top press using the rotating assembly of a Subaru boxer engine, the Subaru Piston Press.

The subject of his visual work, on the other hand, draws inspiration from organic and mechanical compositions, contained chaos with moments of serendipity, and the darker elements of the world that exists within and without us. Through perspective and teetering compositions of turbulence and serenity, his work indulges complex emotions and relationships within nature; confronting humanity’s convoluted impact and identity with nature and with themselves.

  • 2013-16

    Appalachian State University, Boone, NC - Bachelor of Fine Arts: Studio Art in Printmaking

    2010-13

    Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC - Associate of Arts: Fine Arts

  • 2023

    United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County Artist Support Grant, Raleigh, NC

    2017

    Suzanne Hill Scholarship Fund, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN

    2016

    1st Place, Art Expo, Catherine Smith Gallery, Boone, NC

    2015

    Judy Humphrey Travel Award for Printmaking, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

    2013

    1st Place/Blue Ribbon, NC State Fair Fine Arts & Photography Competition, Raleigh, NC

  • 2019

    BIG INK, Lyell Castonguay & Carand Burnet, Artspace, Raleigh, NC

    2018

    6-Month Research Internship in eco-friendly and sustainable printmaking, Zea Mays Printmaking, Florence, MA

    2017

    Chainsaws, Power Tools & Flames: Contemporary Wood Sculpture, Emmet Kane & Derek Weidman, Arrowmont, Gatlinburg, TN

    Terminus: Arrivals & Departures, SGCI Conference, Atlanta, GA

    Tiny Press Round Up, SGCI Conference, Atlanta, GA

    2016

    12 x 12: Bill Fick, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC

    Flux: The Edge of Yesterday and Tomorrow, SGCI Conference, Portland, OR

    2014

    Cuban Culture In Print, Taller Experimental de Gráfica, La Habana, Cuba

    Cuban Culture Through The Lens, Ramón del Valle, La Habana, Cuba

    2013

    Kick Over The Wall, Cause the Government to Fall, Dread Scott, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

  • 2023

    So & So Books, Raleigh, NC

    2020

    William & Company, Raleigh, NC

    Person Street Bar, Raleigh, NC

    2018

    HOWL, The Dirty Truth, Northampton, MA

  • 2019

    North Carolina Annual Artists Exhibition, Raleigh Fine Arts Society, CAM Contemporary Art Museum, Raleigh, NC

    2017

    FALC 22nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Fine Arts League of Cary, Cary, NC

    North Carolina Annual Artists Exhibition, Raleigh Fine Arts Society, Duke Energy Performing Arts Center, Raleigh, NC

    Art Now: Printmaking, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI

    Conroe Art League 2nd Invitational Show, Conroe Art League, Conroe, TX

    Clemson National Print & Drawing Exhibition, Lee Gallery, Clemson, SC

    2016

    Art Expo, Catherine Smith Gallery, Boone, NC

    2015

    Art Expo, Catherine Smith Gallery, Boone, NC

    2013

    Anything Goes, Litmus Gallery & Studios, Raleigh, NC

    North Carolina State Fair Fine Arts & Photography Competition, Raleigh, NC

  • 2023

    HIGHLIGHTS: Selections from BRAHM’s Permanent Collection, BRAHM Cannon Gallery, Blowing Rock, NC

    2022

    Changsha International Youth Printmakers Invitational Exhibition, Changsha Normal University, Hunan, China

    2021

    Contrast & Parallels, Bouwput Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    2020

    Under Pressure: National Printmaking Exhibit, The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO

    BIG INK Exhibition, Toe River Arts, Spruce Pine, NC

    The EX Exhibit, Imurj Artists Cafe, Raleigh, NC

    2019

    BIG INK Exhibition, Artspace, Raleigh, NC

    2018

    This Is Armada, evo Seattle Store, Seattle, WA

    This Is Armada, evo Denver Store, Denver, CO 

    2017

    Under Pressure: The Print Exhibition, VAE Creativity Incubator, Raleigh, NC

    2016

    BFA Senior Exhibition: 13, Catherine Smith Gallery, Boone, NC

    2015

    Origins, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, Blowing Rock, NC 

    2014

    La Cultura Cubana: Through the Eyes of Appalachia, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, Blowing Rock, NC

    Cuban Culture In Print, Taller Expiremental de Gráfica, La Habana, Cuba

    2013

    RVCA x 17th Street: The Experience, 17th Street Surf Shop, Wilmington, NC

    NC Community Colleges 50th Anniversary Special Edition of the Art Exhibition, The Caswell Building, Raleigh, NC               

  • 2021

    Angela Borda, Silver Webb. “Propensity for Chaos (Birds of a Feather)”, Santa Barbara Literary Journal - Volume 6: Saturn’s Return, June 2021. 10, 106, 168, 190, 252.

    2019

    Ann Reed Dunn, Chad Alligood, Vicki Hare. "Tiger Lily Pipe Dreams", Raleigh Fine Arts Society, March 2019. 56.

    2017

    Georgia Walker. "Downtown Boone Art Fair: A Day for the Arts." The Appalachian. 4 Sept. 2017. www.theappalachianonline.com

    Ann Reed Dunn, Michael Rooks. "Howl: Positive Variant" & "Howl: Negative Variant", Raleigh Fine Arts Society, March 2017. 52, 53.

    Denise Woodward-Detrich, Sydney Cross. "Beacon Heights", Clemson National Print & Drawing Exhibition, February 2017. 26.

    2016

    Adam Finkelston, James Meara. "Howl (Positive Variant)", The HAND Magazine, April 2016. 25.

    Dave Dykes, Kyle Hazard, Rachel Bowles, Doss Hill. "Broken Melody" & "Sticks and Stones", The Peel Literature & Arts Review, Spring 2016. 15, 73.

    Dave Dykes, Kyle Hazard, Rachel Bowles, Doss Hill. The Peel Literature & Arts Review, Spring 2016. www.thepeelreview.com

    Adam Finkelston, James Meara. "Beacon Heights", The HAND Magazine, April 2016. 57.

    2015

    Dave Dykes, Kyle Hazard, Rachel Bowles, Doss Hill. The Peel Literature & Arts Review, Fall 2015. www.thepeelreview.com

    Frank Ruggiero. "'Convergence/Subsidence' at the Nth˚." Watauga Democrat. 2 July 2015. www.watuagademocrat.com

    Jessica Isaacs. "ONE-OF-A-KIND: Appalachian State Students Team Up with Local Brewery for Art Project." High Country Press. 27 Apr. 2015. www.hcpress.com

    2014

    Jeff Eason. "Impressions of Cuba." Watauga Democrat, 16 Dec. 2014. www.watuagademocrat.com

    Madison Lewis. "BRAHM Opens 'La Cultura Cubana: Through the Eyes of Appalachia' Exhibit; Runs Through Jan. 17." High Country Press, 12 Dec. 2014. www.hcpress.com

    Daniel Brinkley. "Osetek Studio Art - Pilot Design Company." Pilot Design Company. 22 July 2014. www.pilotdesignco.com

  • 2023

    Blowing Rock Art & History Museum Permanent Collection, BRAHM, Blowing Rock, NC

    2016

    Appalachian Artists Collection, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC