LAGUNA BEACH, CA.- New works from Southern California based abstract expressionist painter Nina K Cullen will be presented at the artist’s solo exhibition “Pixelated World” at the acclaimed Avran Art + Design Gallery at 540 S. Coast Highway #106 in Laguna Beach, CA, opening on Saturday, September 10th 2016. The exhibit will feature various pieces from the artist’s “Pixel” series.

Over the last few years, Nina K Cullen’s work has become extremely desirable with collectors throughout the US and overseas, while she is represented by three different galleries in the Southern California area. In addition to her relationship with the Avran Art + Design Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA, where she currently lives, she is also represented by the Coda Gallery in Palm Desert, CA and the Emerald C Gallery, in San Diego.

As an artist, she first developed a very strong following of private collectors and design professionals in the Southwest region of the country, before her appeal broadened nationwide and beyond.

Her “Pixel” series of paintings, along with her other work, are all oil on canvas and have been described as “explosive”. Nina K Cullen developed signature technique incorporates applying heavy layers of paint with various palette knives in a cascade form. She’ll often mix several colors on her knife and drag it down to get a specific effect. When dry, she applies glazes and varnish which gives it a three dimensional effect and also a wet appearance. When the proper lighting hits the paintings, they give off a very luminous effect.

Nina K Cullen has also exhibited at various juried art shows around the country, where her paintings sell very well. This past year alone she has sold 48 paintings at various prices, usually in the $5,000-$10,000 range.

The new pieces being shown at Avran Art + Design Gallery are all oil on 2.5” thick canvas and will include Hot Summer Night 68” x 60” - city scape with explosive sunset and brilliant water reflections created with layers of oil paint applied with various palette knives creating textures and luminous effect, Changing Trends 60” x 48” - Nina’s developed technique of thick oil paint applied on canvas by loading the palette knife with several colors to achieve rich texture, Fire Dance 72” x 48” - silhouette of a woman achieved by using Nina’s developed technique of applying thick layers of oil paint with a palette knife in a cascade format, Collage 64” x 58” - various shapes and widths of stripes created with several colors of oil paint blended and applied on canvas with palette knives to create a harmonious collage and Summer By The Sea 48” x 68” - geometric impression of seascape, shore, and backdrop mountains, executed with thick layers of oil paint applied with palette knives.

In addition to the Avran Art + Design Gallery show in Laguna Beach, CA. Nina K Cullen is also exhibiting other paintings ate The Coda Gallery in Palm Desert, CA through the late summer/early fall and at Art San Diego November 3rd-6th.

While her true passion has always been her art, she also achieved prominence as a fashion designer throughout the 1980’s and 90’s when she launched her own Nina K women’s line in New York City. The fashion world embraced her designs and she won the “Rising Star Award” from the National Fashion association. The label took off and her clothing was soon in fine stores coast to coast. Many leading fashion magazines including Vogue, Elle and Glamour featured her designs in various layouts.

Upon moving to the Los Angeles area in mid 90’s, Nina switched the focus and her talent back into creating her art as a full time career. She began painting large scale Abstract oils on canvas and soon found an audience for her work. Her art, including the vibrant “Passion” series has since been successfully exhibited in numerous galleries and public settings, while also enhancing many private collections across the US and abroad.

Nina K Cullen has also donated art from her collection to select worthy charities, most recently giving two paintings to be auctioned off to raise funds for the Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD) and Art-A-Fair programs that promote and provide art supplies for young artists.