About the Artist

 

Nancy smiles with a bit of irony and mischief when asked where she’s from.  Born in Washington, DC and raised in Northern Virginia at the edge of horse country, she reflects that she felt in some ways like a fish out of water in an upscale suburb so near the hubbub of our nation’s capitol.  But, for a little girl in love with the outdoors, animals, riding and drawing, it was in another way fertile ground for how she believes she’s made.

 

“I don’t remember when I started drawing; I only remember always doing it.  And it didn’t matter if it was a pencil, a crayon or a stick in the mud, anything was fine with me,” she laughs.  As a small girl, her favorite subjects usually done with a No. 2 school pencil, were horses, barns and fences, wooded and pastoral landscapes, all a part of her other big passion, riding.  “I was born a horse nut - hopelessly addicted.  They were and are in my blood; I always knew I was meant to ride and own a farm.”  Drawing farms and horses as a youngster just further crystalized those dreams later in life.

 

Galloping around the neighborhood on a fiery, imaginary steed, kept her where she most liked to be - outside.  And all that time playing in the snow, in tree houses or sand boxes, on bicycles and skates, gave a romantic and athletic child ample opportunity to drink up and love all things outdoors.

 

Nancy was fortunate to have art classes throughout her entire education, and still has many pieces she created in her early teens.  After being accepted to several universities in different parts of the country, she decided to enroll in the Art and Architecture Department at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  “Coming from near DC, I’d never experienced the friendliness of strangers that I found in the South, and I was seriously attracted to the Great Smoky Mountains, having grown up with the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley.  At the time, I had no idea how much the Park would change my life.”

 

Beginning with Commercial Art and quickly changing to a Fine Art major in Drawing, Nancy found her place in college.  She studied watercolor, figure drawing, sculpture, cinematography, several forms of print making and mixed media, enjoying them all, but loving graphite, intaglio and lithography most.  She did extra course work to finish with a double major in Studio Art and Drawing, minors in Intaglio and Art History.  “I was one course short of a minor in Shakespearean Tragedies.  No, don’t ask me where that came from,” she grins.  Nancy studied with Clark Stewart, William Loy, and Edward Whitney Leland to name a few.  Leland told her at the end of her second quarter that she didn’t belong there.  “I was dumbfounded!  He’d given me an A+++ which had sent me reeling as it was.  Then he said, ‘You should apply to the Art Institute of Chicago.  You should be somewhere like that.’  Being just 19 and pretty intimidated by that idea, I didn’t heed his advice.  But it confirmed my path.”  She’s quick to emphasize that the years she spent with Leland and Stewart were significant and she wouldn’t trade their guidance for anything.

 

After graduation, Nancy’s first job was drawing and designing full sized billboards for a silk screen printing company in Alcoa, Tennessee.  “Five years on a ladder in the dark, in front of an opaque projector, added a whole new dimension to my drawing career.”  She continued to draw, show and sell as an artist member of the Dulin Gallery of Art, and an exhibitor in The University of Tennessee’s annual Juried Show and Sale, as well as with local opportunities such as a solo show in The Knoxville Library.  During that time, she also pursued a new passion, hiking frequently in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Exploring the mountain trails, cabins, wildlife and flora opened a new door of inspiration for her work.

 

In 1983, Nancy moved to Nashville, which she still calls home.  A call to climb some corporate ladders stole her from her art for some time, until the stress of it all compelled her to make some big changes.  She describes her years in publishing fulfillment, pharmaceuticals and as a corporate VP as her “affair with gastric distress." Genuine job related health concerns moved her to buy a horse and find a new direction.  Falling back on an old passion, she found a farm and started over.  Sixteen years boarding, training, competing horses and schooling riders, judging horse shows regionally and fox hunting, revived her freedom of spirit and connection with the great outdoors.

 

Happy every day during those years, building a business, teaching and consulting equine buyers, caring for 100 acres and 25-30 horses, left no time for drawing.  Eventually, that void had to be filled.  In 2003, she turned the second floor of her 100 year old farm house into a drawing studio, and came full circle.  Pulling out an unfinished study of Bud Ogle’s cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains, her drawing career was reborn.  That piece now owned by one of her largest collectors, hangs in Atlanta, Georgia, along with several other originals and a limited edition print of The Walker Sisters’ Cabin, the first rendering in her ever growing Nature, Wood and Stone series.

 

Not wanting to be a horse farmer for life, Nancy decided in late 2004 that it was time again to change gears.  Post 9/11 economy was not kind to horse farms and she felt her heart leaning back toward drawing.  “I took several months to close the farm, caring for my remaining boarders, then another six months to wean myself from jumping out of bed at 5 AM to feed horses I no longer had!”  From that point, it’s been a growing list of art festivals, shows, online galleries, competitions and art organizations, building connections, internet presence and new bodies of work.  

 

The Nature, Wood and Stone series is a long running theme that holds great passion for Nancy.  Years in East Tennessee after college provided opportunity to photograph her favorite places in The Smokies for this ongoing collection, and planted the seeds for many subsequent trips to the mountains for vacation, hiking and inspiration.  Other travel favorites have been the Northern California and Oregon coasts, where the Ocean Things series was born.  Both series have evolved from graphite on a variety of papers to layering graphite with colored and charcoal pencils on tinted pastel paper.  “I love subtle color with graphite, some of it added and some of it coming from the paper itself.  Canson makes a heavier weight pastel paper and a pastel board that are fabulous for what I’m doing right now.”  Nancy uses anywhere from seven to 30 different weights of lead layered with other drawing media to bring simple things to vibrant life.  From lava pebbles to sand dollars, log, iron and stone, these images resonate with photo realism.  Both “Kitchen Window” and “Under the School House” from The Nature, Wood and Stone series are rendered in this process, and won awards locally and nationally.  Ocean Things with pebbles of polished lava rock and other found sea objects have been developing rapidly since 2009.  Using the same beloved techniques, originals, giclee and commissions in this theme are keeping the artist busy as well.  With a smile, Nancy says collectors seem to be buying these “in two's."

 

An avid follower of the advice of  J. Jason Horejes, owner of Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ and his book “‘Starving’ to Successful”,  Nancy passionately agrees that spending time with other artists is the most important thing to do to feed an art career.  Repeatedly meeting women artists with much talent but reservations about their directions, Nancy was inspired to form Women Artists of Middle Tennessee in 2009, a no dues, no agenda monthly lunch date that she organizes through email.  “It has been a hit,” she shares.  “It’s relaxed, fun networking, talking about whatever needs to surface.  Every single attendee has benefited from these gatherings, learning from each other’s experience and enjoying a greater sense of community and contribution.  I started with three artists counting myself, and in less than a year of almost monthly lunches, it grew significantly.”  WAMT’s first group show, “Art Connects Us”, was written up in the December 2012 issue of Nashville Arts Magazine.  That initiative sparked the desire to actually promote artists.  In early 2016 along with two co-creators,  TheGreatLesserKnown.com was born featuring video interviews of middle Tennessee area artists.

 

Nancy has enjoyed representation by Local Color Gallery in downtown Nashville, TN, and Xanadu Studio Online, Scottsdale, AZ., as well as juried membership in the National Association of Women Artists, NYC, NY; the former Tennessee Artisans Market at The Renaissance Center in Dickson, Tennessee; the Arts Council of Williamson County and Tennessee Art League.   She was two years Vice President of The Tennessee Artisan Market, Inc., a non-profit for the visual arts. She is currently a juried member of the Nashville Artist Guild and Sanctuary Artists. Nancy loves life with her Standard Schnauzer, working in her home studio on commissions and her own inspirations for competitions.

 

 

Artist Resume`

 

Juried Exhibits, Shows and Awards

2026 March 2026-2027 - American Women Artists Juried Online Exhibition

2023 November 2 - 30 - Nashville Artists Guild group show “Autumn Glow”, Gordon Jewish Community Center, Nashville, TN

2023 June 1 - August 28 - Nashville Artists Guild group show, Williamson County Performing Arts Center, Franklin, TN

2019 September 28 - "PIECES of heART" Women Artists of Middle Tennessee group show, River Rest Club House, Franklin, TN

2018 November - December Solo Show, Center for the Arts, Murphreesboro, TN

2018 November 4 - "Holiday Art Market 2017" Women Artists of Middle Tennessee group show, Frankin Creative Gallery, Franklin, TN

2017 October 7 - Art in the Park, Juried Fine Art Competition, Kingston Springs, TN

2017 October 1 - IPAS Online Member Juried Exhibition, International Pencil Art Society, Quebec, Canada

2017 September 14-16 - Montgomery Bell Academy Art Show, Nashville, TN

2017 July - August  Solo Show, Williamson County Franklin Library, Grid Row,  Arts Council of Williamson County

2017 April 29th - “Art Connects Us II” group show, Franklin Creative, Franklin, TN

2016 October - Art in the Park, Juried Fine Art Competition, Kingston Spring, TN, Third Place Award/Drawing

2016 September - April 2017  Arts in the Airport,  Arts & Culture Alliance, McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, TN

2016 September - November  “Connections: Art Show” Arts Council of Williamson County juried group show, Battle Ground Academy, Franklin, TN

2016 January - "Diversity" Chromatics Second Floor Gallery Group Show, Nashville, TN

2015 October - 2015 WRSF Schnauzerfest, Dickson, TN

2015 October - Art in the Park, Juried Fine Art Competition, Kingston Springs, TN

2015 September - Spring Hill Art Walk, Spring Hill, TN

2014 November - Martin Masters, Fifty Forward Center, Brentwood, TN

2014 October - Art in the Park, Kingston Springs, TN, Second Place Award/Drawing

2014 August - September  PAS International Exhibition, Repentigny Exhibition Center, Quebeq, Canada

2014 March - "Art 24", Group Show sponsored by Tradebank, Harpeth Art Center, Pegram, TN

2013 November - January, WAMT Group Show, “Art Connects Us”, Chromatics Second Floor Gallery, Nashville, TN

2012 September - October, "Nature, Wood & Stone" Solo Show, The Renaissance Center, Dickson, TN

2012 June - Solo Show & Workshop, Spring Hill Public Library, Spring Hill, TN

2012 May-August  - "Who Are You?" Group Show, Chromatics Second Floor Gallery, Nashville, TN

2012 May-June  - 47th Annual Central South Art Exhibition National, Nashville, TN, Ralph Langreck Memorial Award, 

Juror: Ruth Burks Crnkovich

2012 January - Vivid Gallery, Nashville, TN, “Transitions” Five Artists Group Show

2011-2012  October - January, Williamson County Association of Realtors, Artists Exhibition, Arts Council of Williamson County

2011 November - Martin Masters, Fifty Forward Center, Brentwood, TN

2011 October - Art In the Park, Kingston Springs, TN, Second Place Winner, Drawing/Mixed Media Division

2011 October   Franklin Art Scene, WCCAC Exhibit, Cadence Bank, Franklin,  TN

2011 Sept - October   13th Annual Regional Art Exhibition, The Renaissance Center, Dickson, TN, Merit Award winner. Juror: Teresa VanHatten-Granath

2011 May  - 122nd Annual Exhibition, National Association of Women Artists, Inc., Sylvia Wald and Po Kim Gallery, NYC

2011 May-June   46th Annual Central South Art Exhibition National, Nashville, TN, Juror: Joseph Sulkowski

2011 April - Direct Art Magazine, Volume 18, Finalist, SlowArt Productions, Hudson, NY

2011 March-May   “in the biz 2.0,” Group Show, Chromatics Second Floor Gallery Show, Nashville, TN

2011 March - Little Strokes Gallery,  Animal Drawing Exhibit, Juror: Barbara Keith

2011 March - Artist of the Month,  Artists In Nashville, Nashville, TN

2010 December  - Hope Clinic Benefit, Nashville, TN     

2010 November - December   Center for Spiritual Living, Nashville, TN, “Expressions In Spirit” Group Exhibit

2010 November - St. Matthew “Art For Inspiration,” Franklin, TN

2010 November  - Martin Masters, Fifty Forward Center, Brentwood, TN

2010 October  - Tennessee Foreign Language Institute, Fund Benefit, Nashville, TN

2010 October - Art In the Park, Kingston Springs, TN.  First and Third places, Drawing Division

2010 July - September   Solo Show, Franklin, Tennessee City Hall Art Program, Fire Hall Gallery

2010 June - Art Fusion at The Factory, Franklin, TN

2010 May - Art House Coop,  APW Gallery, The Blue Project, Brooklyn, NY

2010 February -  Artists In Nashville at Classic Modern, Nashville, TN

2010 January   Studio Mills Fine Art & Crafts Sale, Kingston Springs, TN

2009 November   Centennial Holiday Fine Art & Crafts Show, Franklin, TN

2009 November  All Saints Episcopal Church Fine Art & Crafts Show, Nashville, TN

2009 October   Art, Antiques & Crafts Show, Now & Then Antiques, Leiper’s Fork, TN,

2009 October   Art In the Park, Juried Fine Art Show, Kingston Springs, TN

2009 April   Art House Coop, APW Gallery, Sketch It Out Project, Brooklyn, NY

2008 December   Studio Mills Fine Art & Crafts Sale, Kingston Springs, TN

2008 November   Studio Mills Fine Art & Crafts Sale, Kingston Springs, TN

2008 October   Now & Then Antiques, Art, Antiques & Crafts Show, Leiper’s Fork, TN

2008 March   Untitled Nashville,  "Active Ingredients" Show, Nashville, TN

2007 October   Art In the Park, Juried Fine Arts Show, Kingston Springs, TN

2007 June   "Wednesday Night Wags", Happy Tales Humane Association, The Factory, Franklin, TN

2006 October   Art In the Park, Juried Fine Arts Show, Kingston Springs, TN

2005 October   Art In the Park, Juried Fine Arts Show, Kingston Springs, TN

2005 December   Palette Gallery,  Winter Theme Show, Nashville, TN

2005 May   Jubilee Cityfest, Montgomery, AL

2005 April   Auburn CityFest,  Auburn, AL

 

Galleries, Affiliations

2022 - current  American Women Artists Associate Member of Distinction

2022 - current Juried member, Nashville Artist Guild

2016 - 2022  Co-creator, TheGreatLesserKnown.com, Greater Nashville, TN

2016 - 2017  VP, The Tennessee Artisan Market, Inc., Dickson, TN

2014 - current  International Pencil Art Society, Quebec, Canada

2013 - 2017 Local Color Gallery, Nashville, TN

2012 - 2014  YHTP Artisans for Charity, Nashville, TN

2011 - 2013   Juried member, National Association of Women Artists, Inc., NYC, NY

2011 - 2019   Tennesseans for the Arts, Nashville, TN

2011   Williamson County Community Arts Commission, Franklin, TN

2010 - 2019   The Tennessee Arts Commission, Nashville, TN

2010 - 2014   Tennessee Artisans Market, The Renaissance Center, Dickson, TN

2010 - current   Xanadu Studio Online, Artist, Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

2009 - 2020   Founder,  Women Artists of Middle Tennessee

2009 - 2013   Arts Council of  Williamson County, TN

2007 - 2009   Milo Art Gallery, Kingston Springs, TN

2007   States Street Gallery, Madison, WI

2005 - 2006, 2008 - 2010   Tennessee Art League, Nashville, TN

 

Education

2014 May   Quick Study Landscapes with Melanie Morris, Birmingham,  AL

2011 October   Charkes Brindley Drawing Workshop, Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville, TN

2011 March   Still Life Workshop with J.D. Hillberry, Louisville, Colorado

2010 September  ' “Starving” to Successful' Artists Workshop, J. Jason Horejs, Owner, Xanadu Gallery, Scootsdale, Nashville, TN

2010 January   Artists Seminar/Demonstration, Igor Babailov, Tennessee Art League, Nashville, TN

2004   Prof. Victoria Boone Art Business Workshop and Private Consultation, Nashville, TN

1974  BFA University of Tennessee, Knoxville, double majors Drawing & Studio Art, Knoxville, TN

 

Press

2013 “‘Art Connects Us’ at Chromatics”, Nashville Arts Magazine, December issue, page 31

2011 November   Xanadu Gallery Art Catalog, Scottsdale, AZ

2011 November   Brentwood Home Page, Nancy Hilgert at Martin Masters, Brentwood, TN

2011 November   Featured Artist, Williamson County Cultural Arts Commission Newsletter, TN

2011 June   Featured Artist, Tennessee Artisans Market, The Renaissance Center, Dickson, TN

2011 May   American Art Collector Magazine, Xanadu Gallery Artists Ad

2011 April - June  Featured Artist, Tennessee Artisan Market web site, The Renaissance Center, TN

2011 April   Featured Artist,  Artists in Nashville, Nashville, TN

2011 February   American Art Collector Magazine, Xanadu Gallery Artists Ad

2010  Arts Tennessee, Winter Issue,  Artist Nancy Hilgert with the Tennessee Artisan Market

 

 

Private and Corporate Collectors

Author Frank Cook, Tennessee

Author Patricia Krapf, Texas

Mr. & Mrs. T. Amonette, Tennessee

Ms. C. Bellos, Valencia, Spain

Mrs. J. Corley, Tennessee

Mr. D. P. Cutshall, Georgia

Mr. D. A. Doud, California

Mr. Jack Farmer, Tennessee

Mr. & Mrs. David Garrett, Tennessee

Mr. & Mrs. J. Hardy, Tennessee

Mrs. K. Hegge, Georgia

Mr. Brandon Jackson, Jackson Photoworks, Valencia, Spain

Senator & Mrs. D. Jackson, Tennessee

Mr. & Mrs. D. Liedtke, Tennessee

Mr. & Mrs. M. E.. Liotta, Georgia

Mrs. S. McGraw, Texas

Ms. K.D. Perks, Virginia

Mrs. Nancy Morgan-Pooler, Tennessee

Mrs. D. Roetemeyer, Tennessee

Mrs. Barbara Rodriguez, Tennessee

Mr. Gerald B. Smith, California

Mr. & Mrs. Don Stanton, Tennessee

Mrs. K. Tange-DuPre, Tennessee

Mrs. K. F. Worthington, Tennessee

Inselstadt Schutzhund Club, Wisconsin

Nolensville Veterinary Hospital, Equine Division, Tennessee

Tennessee Valley Authority,  Corporate Offices, Knoxville, Tennessee

United Schutzhund Clubs of America, St. Louis, Missouri 

Vom Mutterhaus Giant Schnauzers, Wisconsin