Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Nancy Prator Hollinghurst made the journey to New York for the first time in 1998 to obtain her BFA from the School of Visual Arts. Upon graduating, she relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina where she worked as a portrait artist and muralist. While in Charlotte, her career made great leaps with press and exhibitions, but most importantly in 2005, with a private patronage for four months travel and study in Europe. Having never been to Europe, this voyage affected Hollinghurst greatly, and it was while still overseas that she decided it was time to return to New York and pursue an MFA. In 2006 she began intense studies in figurative work at the New York Academy of Art. Upon graduation from the Academy, Prator found herself in Europe once more as a recipient of the Prince of Wales painting fellowship in 2008.
Nancy Prator Hollinghurst currently work as a studio painter for artist Jeff Koons, and also independently out of her Brooklyn studio.
Daniel Colón was born in California in 1982 and spent much of his childhood constantly traveling. He was raised partly in Saudi Arabia and in various parts of the United States. At the age of 15 he enrolled at Cranbrook Kingswood, where he first gained interest in classical art and developed a passion for painting. He continued his studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. In 2003 he moved to New York to pursue traditional figure painting where he studied at the Art Students League of New York and the National Academy of Design. In 2005 he was awarded the Xavier Gonzalez and Ethel Edwards Travel Grant which allowed him to travel to Spain and Morocco to explore landscape painting. The next summer in New York, he participated in the Hudson River Fellowship Program. In November of 2007 he had his first group exhibition at the Art Students League of New York. After traveling to France in 2008 he had his first solo exhibition of landscape paintings in New York. Daniel continues to live and work in New York City and is currently focusing on a series of portraits and figures.
Colon describes his painting process this way: "When I travel and paint, I prefer staying in one place for as long as possible. I walk everywhere, take a different way every time, and I avoid the tourist routes that tend to be on display. When I find my subject, it’s usually off the beaten path somewhere, in a place the locals have probably passed a thousand times and overlooked just as often. I feel that painting these “forgotten” places is a way of paying respect to them, and giving back some of the surprise and joy they’ve given me.
“Reflections 1 and 2” are from a series of small paintings I did while teaching in the south of France during the summer of 2008. I loved the way the light would hit the rocks and shimmer across the water on my daily walks around the bay of Villefranche-sur-mer. “Leaving Wilderness” and “Approaching Storm” are from a similar trip to Puerto Rico the previous year. Wilderness Beach is a local surf spot on the west of the island known for its spectacular sunsets."
Brent Scowden grew up in Western Kentucky. After three years at the University of Kentucky with no declared major he decided to take some art classes. There was no looking back. That next semester Brent enrolled at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where he pursued computer animation. After receiving his associates degree he felt the life of an animator was not for him. He then enrolled at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota Florida where in 2001 he received his Bachelor’s degree. While studying illustration at Ringling College of A&D he fell in love with the human figure and oil paint. Seeking more knowledge he was led to New York City where in 2007 he received his Master’s degree from the New York Academy of Art. Here he received training and ideas from some great contemporary masters. Brent currently continues his traditional training with Costa Vavagiakis at the Art Students League and privately with his long time mentor Christopher Pugliese.
Jennifer Fairbanks was raised in Western Kentucky. In 1994 she received her Bachelor’s degree from Murray State University with an emphasis on painting and ceramics. During this time she also began to pursue training in classical painting techniques with portrait artist Joy Thomas. This interest led her to New York, where she was able to relocate in 1998 through a grant from the Kentucky Arts Council. Jennifer studied figurative and portrait painting with Ron Sherr and Mary Beth McKenzie at the Art Students Leaugue and the National Academy of Design. In 2003 she received her Master’s degree from New York University in Art Therapy. She has exhibited in numerous group and solo shows in New York, Kentucky and Spain. 