Nick (b. Seoul, Korea) grew up in Central Massachusetts, and currently resides in Boston where he works as a Fine Art Printer and Digitization Specialist at Digital Silver Imaging.
Nick uses his camera to document and shape a segmented narrative through his lens. He often reflects on personal experiences and his relationships with the communities in which he has found kinship. He frequently references stories he hears of family and traditions passed down through his heritage as he continues to write a memoir through his own visual language, warping perception, color, and light. In his most recent work, he explores family archives and returns to Seoul, Korea for the first time since his birth to uncover what an unknown place of origin can hold for the individual as a means to discover Oneself.
Nick received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (24’). During his time as an undergrad, he was awarded the Gertrude Kasebier McPhee Grant (23’) and the Gertrude Kasebier Palmer/Tourlentes Travel Grant (24’), which he used to travel to Seoul and begin his reflection on place. Nick has shown work in group shows at Abigail Ogilvy SoWA, Panopticon Gallery, and the Photographic Resource Center Boston.
Nick is available for assisting + commissions.
Please contact him at nickortoleva@gmail.com
2024 Massachusetts College of Art and Design, BFA in Photography, Academic Honors
2024 How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Panopticon Gallery, Boston
2024 Stories of Humanity, VanDernoot Gallery, Cambridge, MA
2024 Vision(ary): Portraits of Cultures, Communities, and Environments, Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, MA
2024 Photographic Resource Center Student Show, VanDernoot Gallery, Cambridge, MA
2024 All School Show, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Student Life Gallery, Boston
2024 It Looks Like Up to Me, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Godine Family Gallery, Boston
2024 Lenscratch Favorite Photograph You Took in 2023 Online Exhibition
2024 Abigail Ovilgy Fresh Faces 2024, Abigail Ogilvy, SoWa District, Boston
2024 A Second Glance: First look 2024 Online Exhibition, Panopticon Gallery, Boston
2023 Finding Light, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Tower 2nd Floor Gallery, Boston
2023 Alewife Multimedia Show, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Patricia Doran Gallery, Boston
2023 Best in Show Exhibition, Massachusetts College of Art and Design All School Show, Frances Euphemia Thompson Gallery, Boston
2023 All School Show, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Student Life Gallery, Boston
2024 Gertrude Kasebier Tourlentes/Palmer Travel Grant Recipient
2024 The Humid - Pont du Gard, Tuition Scholarship
2024 New England Portfolio Review Scholarship Recipient
2024 Integrative Sciences and Biological Arts Award
2023 Gertrude Kasebier McPhee Grant Recipient
2023 Departmental Award Recipient, Best in Show All School Show
Fine Art Printer at Digital Silver Imaging, Belmont MA, July 2024 - Present
Digitization Specialist at Digital Silver Imaging, Belmont MA, June 2023 - Present
Teaching Assistant for Matthew Connors, PH323/522 - Photobooks: Concept and Structure, Massachusetts College of Art and Design Spring Term, 2024
Volunteered for Massachusetts College of Art and Design 18th Annual Photobook Auction, 2023.
Volunteered for Massachusetts College of Art and Design Photography Department, Boston Art Book Fair as Vendor, 2023
In house Event and Lifestyle Photographer at NuVu Innovation School, Cambridge, MA June 2023-Sept 2023
Digital Lab Monitor for Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Photography Department, September 2023-May 2024
Studio Monitor for Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Design Media Center, September 2022-May 2024.
Contracted via Massachusetts College of Art and Design for: live performance, event documentation for Pozen Center, art installation and event documentation for Godine Family Gallery, September 2022-May 2024.
Directed 2DPA-428 Professional Practices class on art and installation documentation, 2023.