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Nicole Salgar

@nmsalgar

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23.9K

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Muralist & Fine Artist
Public art • Installations • Immersive
Community-driven • Martial arts
Client work → @nsalgarstudio
nicolesalgarstudio.com

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It’s been a year since this shoot 🌹⛓️❤️Last year I did a photoshoot with the best group of creatives. The images from this shoot became the reference for my mural at the Salvador Dalí Museum.I led the art direction, styling, and overall visual direction—working with what I had in my studio and shaping it into something intentional. Collaborating with Regina, I came in with a plan though we continued to developed ideas in real time, adjusting and refining as we went. That back-and-forth, building something as it’s unfolding, is a process I really enjoy.It also gives me space to pull from parts of my background—fashion, styling, set design etc —and apply that perspective with intention. Grateful & looking forward to more of this in the near future. ❤️Creative Direction/Art Direction/Styling : @nmsalgar Model / @cristi.lopez.s Makeup / @markd_bymiah Photography, Set Direction Collaboration/ @reginathephotographer #contemporaryart #artdirection #creativeprocess #visualstorytelling #muralartist by @nmsalgar

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3 months ago

I’m incredibly honored to have created Dejando Huellas (“Leaving Traces”) for “Outside In: Murals Inspired by Dalí” at the @dalimuseum in St. Petersburg, FL.To show my work in a space dedicated to one of the artists who first sparked my creative fire is beyond surreal. Dalí’s dreamlike, symbolic world has inspired me since childhood—and completing this mural on May 24 was a deeply personal, full-circle moment.“Dejando Huellas” is a meditation on memory, identity, and the invisible threads that connect us. A woman reclines on an antique couch, holding a surreal phone—a nod to Dalí’s Lobster Telephone—serving as a conduit between realms. Surrounding her, native Florida flora blooms in symbolic detail, grounding the piece in ancestry, rebirth, and our bond to the natural world. A water-like reflection nods to the subconscious, while a quiet mirror hints at transformation and self-awareness.At the heart of this work is my mother. She appears within the piece—either calling the central figure or being received by her. Their interaction speaks to the unseen, deeply intimate ways we remain connected beyond the physical.This mural wouldn’t have taken shape the way it did without the creative collaboration of @reginathephotographer , @cristi.lopez.s , and @markd_bymiah , who helped bring the reference imagery to life. I’m so grateful for your time, presence, and help with my vision.Thank you to the Dalí Museum, @shineonstpete, and all who have supported this journey. Final images will be shared once the lighting is adjusted—but these moments will live permanently in my heart❤️.#DejandoHuellas #DaliMuseum #OutsideInDali #NicoleSalgar #SurrealismInspired #LatinaArtist #Muralist #MemoryAndIdentity #MotherhoodInArt #SymbolicArt #ContemporaryMural #PublicArtMatters by @nmsalgar

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a year ago

On May 26, I invite you to experience my second installation that will be shown at @mocanomi through @projectartusa. Being the daughter of an architect, I have always had an appreciation & fascination with structures, so I created one of my own. "El Reflejo" is a transformative and immersive experience that transports you to a realm where Art Nouveau aesthetics merge harmoniously with the introspective atmosphere of confession booths. This installation provides a sanctuary where you can confront your truths and embrace your authentic identity. Through the interplay of sound, color, and smell, this space offers a captivating journey, evoking strong emotions and stirring profound memories, all in pursuit of a deeper understanding of oneself. This piece represents our foundations as human beings, in its structure and its homage to monuments of worship. Forever grateful for @psychojdesign_ & Neville who fabricated it and brought my vision into reality. Also grateful to the best @mefxone for putting his heart into creating the sound featured in this piece. Scent my the magical @nightshiftwaxco & Photo is by the incredible visionary @gianocurrie. He really captured the essence of this piece & is always a pleasure to work with. Creatives supporting creatives by @nmsalgar

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3 years ago

This project is part of a larger installation I created for a private client’s headquarters in Wynwood, Miami brought to me through @acrylicize_usa . Rather than approaching each floor as its own piece, I designed the building as a journey through the day. The 5th floor represents dusk.The palette shifts into deeper blues, purples, and muted pinks as the building moves into evening. Native moths begin to appear throughout the composition, reflecting the transition from day to night.Like the floors below, color is used intentionally to influence how the space is experienced. As the palette darkens, the atmosphere becomes quieter and more contemplative. The architecture continues to work with the composition so the artwork feels integrated into the environment rather than applied to it. Design extends beyond aesthetics. In corporate spaces, it shapes how people experience the environment every day.Forever grateful to my team that worked with me on this project:@vic_the_viper @la.yera @johann_art @d1a5 #MuralArtist #CorporateArt #PublicArt #Wynwood #ArtInstallation by @nmsalgar

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4 hours ago

Another lap around the sun. Grateful for the journey. All is full of love ❤️🌹✨🌱 by @nmsalgar

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9 days ago

I’m incredibly intentional about the people I choose to collaborate with because every person leaves something of themselves in the work.Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of watching @va111erie transform, and that’s exactly why I chose her to be the muse for this piece.This painting is being created for a group exhibition titled “Practice Dying”.To me, that means shedding versions of ourselves, releasing what no longer serves us, and seeing life from a new perspective. That kind of transformation is its own form of death and renewal.@supremelips was just as important to this process. She’s one of my closest friends and a photographer whose work I deeply admire. Before the shoot, I developed the art direction and creative brief. Once we were in the studio, we built on that vision together, and the trust between the three of us gave the images room to evolve naturally. (Photos included in this reel are mine)From the lighting and wardrobe to incorporating Chris’s sword into the imagery, every detail had a purpose.Now comes the hardest part: choosing the image that will become the reference for the painting.Practice Dying opens this October at @moreanartscenter alongside my dear friend @palehorse retrospective. I can’t wait to share more soon.#artistprocess #contemporaryart #figurativeart #artstudio womenartists by @nmsalgar

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13 days ago

One of the greatest compliments in this industry is being invited to continue a project. I’m incredibly grateful to @acrylicize_usa for the opportunity to create the next phase of artwork for a private client in Wynwood, Miami—this time on Floor 5.For this installation, I expanded my team by bringing on two new artists. As my projects continue to grow, so does my role as a leader. One of the most rewarding parts of my career has been creating opportunities for fellow artists while building a team rooted in trust, collaboration, and excellence.Leading a team continues to challenge me in the best ways. Every project reinforces the importance of clear communication, setting expectations from the beginning, accountability, adaptability, and creating an environment where people can do their best work. Setting my team up for success, paying them well, and making sure they feel appreciated and valued is just as important to me as the finished artwork.Eternally grateful to my incredible team @la.yera @vic_the_viper @d1a5 @johann_art for your talent, professionalism, hard work, and positive energy. I’m so proud of you & what we created together. Grateful for the opportunity to continue growing alongside such talented artists. My heart is full ❤️Excited to share more from Floor 5 soon. 🎨#MuralArtist #PublicArt #CreativeLeadership #WynwoodMiami by @nmsalgar

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16 days ago

Precious moments from my recent project out in Ft. Myers with @vic_the_viper on the assist for Oak Park through @national_core. It’s the little things ❤️#muralartist #publicart #muralartist #fortmyers #artistprocess by @nmsalgar

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a month ago

This mural was created for Oak Park, a 55+ affordable housing community in Fort Myers developed by @national_core. I was hired by the great duo @aribrendle & @oskywowow The piece is the result of a collaboration between the client and myself. Because the community is called Oak Park, they wanted an oak tree to serve as the focal point, along with oak moss, native birds, and elements inspired by the surrounding Southwest Florida landscape. My role was to take those ideas and interpret them through my own visual language.My color palette was intentional. When designing a mural, I think about the architecture, the surrounding environment, and how I want people to feel in the space. For this piece, I was inspired by twilight—that brief moment when everything is washed in warm golden light and soft pink tones. The peaches, corals, golds, and greens were chosen to create a sense of warmth, calm, and connection while reflecting the atmosphere of Southwest Florida.The curved shape was designed to soften the strong vertical edge of the building and create a more organic relationship between the architecture and the landscape depicted in the mural. It allowed me to blend realism with abstraction while helping the mural feel integrated into the building rather than confined by it.National CORE’s mission of creating affordable housing communities across the country is one I deeply respect. Public art has the ability to shape how a place feels, and I’m grateful to have contributed to a space that so many people will call home.A special thank you to @vic_the_viper , who was instrumental in bringing this project to life. Between the long days, Florida’s rainy season, and the constant problem-solving that comes with large-scale public art, his dedication and support were invaluable throughout the process. I’m especially grateful to him for matching my energy every step of the way and helping bring this vision to completion.#MuralArtist #PublicArt #FortMyers #CommunityArt #ColorPsychology by @nmsalgar

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a month ago

Today is my brother’s Louis’s birthday.To know him, photos never really did him justice. He was an experience. You had to be around him to understand it. He was magnetic, charismatic, hilarious, and completely unforgettable. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed harder in my life than I did with him. He was my best friend.Instead of focusing on the day we lost him, I choose to celebrate the day he entered this world.Grief is interesting & hard to explain . It comes in waves. Some days I can think about him and smile. Other days it completely breaks me & can be crippling. We were incredibly close—so much so that we used to call ourselves twins, even though we were four years apart. People would often tell us they wished they had the relationship we had.It breaks my heart what happened to him and what he went through. And after all these years, there are moments when I find myself forgetting the sound of his voice or small details about him. That’s why videos like these mean so much. They bring me back to him.We lost him in 2014, and every year since, his closest friends and family gather on his birthday to celebrate him. We’ll do the same tonight.His loss forever changed me. It taught me to be unapologetically myself, to live with intention, to go after the things that matter without fear, to tell people I love them more often, and to never take a single moment for granted. It taught me that our time here is precious, and that the impact we have on others can outlive us in ways we may never fully understand.I loved my brother deeply, and I always will.To everyone who loved him, I hope this small glimpse of who he was brings a little joy to your day as we celebrate the incredible person he was. I love you all ❤️#spiritfightersforever by @nmsalgar

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After every project, I take time to reflect on what worked, what challenged me, and what I learned.Recently, I’ve started asking the people I work with the same questions. Hearing their perspectives helps me grow not only as an artist, but as a collaborator and leader.After completing this 45’ x 25’ mural for @national_core in Fort Myers, we sat down to reflect on the experience.Part 2: What we learned, the funniest moments from the project, and our final thoughts after bringing this mural to life.Grateful to have had @vic_the_viper help on this very special project.#MuralArtist #PublicArt #BehindTheMural #CreativeProcess #ArtistLife by @nmsalgar

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a month ago

“Entre Mareas” — between tides.Water is renewal. Water is life. It holds memory, grief, release, transformation, and rebirth all at once. The ocean gives life, takes life, cleanses, consumes, and regenerates. The shadow crossing over one of Laura’s eyes was intentional to represent that emotional duality — she could be dissolving into the water or emerging from it.The ocean holds both.What makes this piece especially meaningful to me is the story behind it. When @lauritarogersthat and I first met, we realized we shared the experience of losing a sibling, and because of that I felt an immediate sense of connection to her. It’s one of the reasons I felt called to paint her as the subject of this piece.Months later, we created the reference for this painting during a water shoot at Fort De Soto with the incredibly talented @supremelips , using mirrors to reflect light across the water and onto her . The shoot had taken place on her sister’s birthday, which gave the entire experience an even deeper sense of connection and meaning. A love letter to those who have loved & lost & are finding their way through.“Entre Mareas”12 x 12 inAcrylic on canvasCreated for COMMON WATERS, an upcoming exhibition presented by Arch Enemy Arts @archenemyarts and @pangeaseed opening June 5th in Philadelphia. by @nmsalgar

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2 months ago