Experience: Nils Westergard Art Talk

Girl with phone,​ Richmond, VA, 2016

^^Example of his detailed stencil work
Waterwings, 24x44”, aerosol on aluminum, 2020

​Waynesboro, VA, 2019

Link to the Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC4u P5OZSpQ
Link to his website: www.nilswestergard.com/
Link to his Instagram: www.instagram.com/nil srva/

 I watched Marina's RVA Art Talk Video where she interviewed artist Nils Westergard.
Painting runs in his family, but he didn't really get into art until when he was in school and got into graffiti. But before that he started art in stage production, where he would paint these huge walls; however, he didn't associate it with art until much late.
  Now he is getting a lot more commissions, including in Europe, so he gets to travel around Europe painting. He is especially fond of Amsterdam and he even speaks Dutch and has a Belgian passport so he is able to travel around Europe easily. He considers Amsterdam his second home, however it is a hard city to paint in because the whole city is a monument. Although he likes living in richmond because it is affordable for an artist and is accessible to other areas to have shows and paint, the vibe of richmond is too conservative for him. When he approaches people to paint on their walls, they think allowing them to paint on wall is a gift from them, when really Westergard is giving them a free painting on the wall. It is a gift to them, but they are very snotty about it.
   Westergard loves working really big like in his Waynesboro painting(see bottom left), but it is also really expensive, as that much paint and a lift is costly, so doesn't get to do much. In fact, Westergard mostly does his walls murals for free, gets paid with flights to the places, food, materials (he usually works in black and white because it is much cheaper), and sometimes housing, etc. However, he still has commissions.
  Westergard doesn't feel as though he is a muralist. He identifies with his much less known studio work, his stenciling(second down on the left). It, even though much smaller, takes longer is more intricate than his wall paintings. Surprisingly he actually draws very little, even though his realism is so good, and sees himself as a human printer for the photos he takes.
    I really enjoyed this artist talk and i loved learning about a new artist that lives near me. I have seen some of his work before while driving around richmond and always marveled at how beautiful it was. I am glad to put a face to the artwork. 

Antwerp, Belgium, 2017, w/ Joachim