Nicole Nagel-Gogolak

About Nicole

Nicole Nagel-Gogolak is an artist and art educator based in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley, where she has lived and worked for over 25 years. Her creative practice is deeply informed by the surrounding landscape and an enduring engagement with material exploration. When not in the studio, she can often be found hiking, biking, or skiing—activities that continue to shape her sense of place and visual language.

Gogolak operates a small gallery in Newcastle, Colorado, supporting both her own work and a broader artistic community. She is also a dedicated educator, currently teaching middle school art at Aspen Country Day School and instructing drawing and painting at Colorado Mountain College.

She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Michigan and a Master of Fine Arts in Fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her interdisciplinary background informs a practice that bridges traditional and experimental approaches, fostering both technical skill and conceptual depth in her work and teaching.

My teaching philosophy emphasizes building strong technical skills as a foundation for creative growth. I encourage students to approach their work with curiosity and confidence, taking risks to discover their personal aesthetics and strengths while embracing fearless exploration in the studio.