His Expressionist World
One does not pass by any of Nicolai's oil paintings with indifferent nonchalance. His use of form and color, especially the unfolding of allegorical impingements, some obvious but many with subtle change tones or story lines, will captivate and seduce the critical mind.
Not afraid of mixing colors, his unique works are inspired portrayals of various subjects, mostly females or scenes with improbable gender, which often show hints and traces of feeling and passions from previous years or even, as the artist believes, from other lifetimes.
His use of depth, shading and balance is not totally traditional and the transcendent inspirations captured in vibrancy and color melding work to create an originality not found in any other contemporary expressionistic artist.
Born in Pennsylvania of Russian parents, Nicolai dreamed of entering the field of medicine or architecture, but the lack of family finances propelled him into education. It was at Laguna Beach, where he taught English and wrote poetry, that he perchance met and befriended the famous outsider artist Jon Serl who urged Nicolai to start painting with serious intent. Finally in 1992, just before his friend's passing, Nicolai began to put his expressions on canvas.
Since his arrival to the world of art, a fast growing contingent of art lovers and patrons has burgeoned in appreciation of his continuing artistic endeavors.
Currently, Nicolai lives in El Cariso Village, located twenty miles from Capistrano, California, where he paints his creations among and under ancient oaks and beside a flowing creek. Visitors are always welcome at his studio and gallery, but are requested to call in advance.
"Colors are my constant companions ... more often than not they move the brush, causing phenomenal spatial discoveries until a mystical 'aha' occurs ... these are pleasured moments of innate gifts of ecstacy ... and if the canvas continues to show promise, even my eyes begin to hear symphonies ..."
"I get those questions…'how long did this painting take?'…'where did you get ideas for your paintings?' …'you have a lot of sex in the art?'…'what artist influenced you the most?'…and on and on. Look, if you want me to quote chapter and verse, issues and comparative analyses on Toulouse-Lautrec and his stinging wit, Modigliani and his excesses that brought about his greatness, not to mention Dali and Picasso and Miro and Max Ernst…where does it stop? Perhaps Zorba is one of my greatest influences. I'll tell you where it began for me -- I don't know. How many lifetimes ago? And the ideas? When was there ever a shortage…haven't you seen that face before, at least the tilt of her breast or the subtle quick look of curiosity -- it's never lost, after one year or even after fifty! I've always thought that a lot of people become up-tight bastards sometimes, thanks to this mostly puritanical country of ours -- myself included at times, and only get an occasional glimpse of who-they-are and why-they're-here after a Jesus miracle or a romp, however induced, in the incredible always available fields of forever pleasure. So, that's probably why I like the grape, turn on my favorite tunes, talk to my oils, and laugh about my own absurdities. And you then get the results on canvas."
The emotional use of color, added to assorted figures depicted often as caricatures or mythic representations, awakens one's senses to consider unending possibilities, from the satirical to the humorous in his paintings.
Doug Snow - AIA / Artist
Nicolai's paintings force the eye to examine the explosive mix of color and form and then subject the viewer to consider many levels for thematic interpretation. At his recent and highly attended art show at SOKA University entitled "The Expressionistic World Of Nicolai", fifty oils were on display, giving full reign to the senses, a true delight and escape from the world of ordinary art.
Linda Safran - Director of Philanthropy Soka University of America
When I visited Nicolai I had the priviledge of viewing his ambitious and compelling paintings. It was immediately clear that painting, for him, had become an act of cathartic necessity and I was amazed at his productivity. Nicolai utilizes the fluid paint application and vibrant colors of earlier abstract expressionists, but in contrast to their emphasis on aesthetic issues and downplay of content, his paintings are pictoral metaphors filled with meaning. More akin to neo-expressionism, his paintings are loaded with symbolism, mythology, politics, religion and social destruction.
Conceptually as well as compositionally, Nicolai's paintings cannot be ignored. His art needs not to be understood to enjoy it. He uses art for personal expression filled with the radiance of his own imagination and a healthy dose of humor.
Maggie Owens - Curator of Art Chapman University
Nicolai's paintings have been displayed in variuous Southern California galleries and universities since the Nineties. More recently, his work was shown at the prestigious International Art Expo 2010 in New York.