About
Hi. I’m Nanci Hersh.
Welcome to the vibrant world of my contemporary mixed media art, where dynamic abstract drawings, paintings, and sculptures come together to discover a deeper connection to the world around us.
If you're seeking to transform your space, you've come to the right place. Let my art reflect who you are and what sustains you.
Influences and inspiration.
Water has always been a part of my art. When I was a kid, I loved spending summer days at the beach, playing in the waves or scouring the sands for hidden treasures. My years living and surfing in Hawai’i deepened my connection with the ocean. Nowadays, I find inspiration in the seasonal changes of our backyard koi pond or walks along nearby creeks and rivers.
Growing up in my family’s millinery shop, I was surrounded by the vibrant world of women’s hats. The magic of touching and trying on these majestic 'crowns,' along with the bold lines, vibrant colors, and plethora of patterns and textures that were used to craft them, profoundly influences my work.
Through the process of multilayered narratives, I delve into themes of home, family, the natural world, and the intricate webs that bind us together.
Super brief origin story
Since I was a young girl growing up in New Jersey, I've loved telling stories. People often said I was 'too much'—too emotional, too energetic, too talkative, and curious. I found happiness and comfort in journaling and creating with my grandmothers. Nana Rose shared her brushes and paints, while Nana Ceil taught me crochet and sewing. A strong high school art program inspired me to attend Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.
And I’ve been making art ever since.
Artist, educator, curator, and illustrator
“Unmasked: Portraits from the Zoom Room” series was exhibited in 2022 at the Nilson Gallery, Monmouth Museum, New Jersey. Many, of the subjects are artists, educators, and people that I shared space within my role as Executive Director of Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education.
My work has been exhibited in multiple solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States, Estonia, Australia, and Japan.
Honors include: Three purchase awards from the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts, Hawai’i, Three Leeway Foundation Art & Change Grants.
My work is in: the Public Collections of Museum of Encaustic Art, Johnson & Johnson, Leland Portland Cement, OSI Pharmaceuticals - to name a few.
I’ve led book, mural, and various projects with teen moms, incarcerated youth, and other community groups. I’ve curated group exhibitions such as “Chapel of Tears”, Chris White Gallery, Wilmington, DE, and the “Art of Survival”, Herspace Breast Imaging, West Long Branch, NJ.
With Ellen McVicker, I illustrated and co-created the children’s book “Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer… a hopeful, helpful book for kids.” The book has sold over 15,000 copies and is a resource and comfort to children and their families around the world. In 2015, we were invited to participate in the Art+798 festival in Beijing, China.
