the work
Nicole Ryder (b. 1986, Los Angeles) is an artist working across mixed media, ceramics, and photography. Her large-scale velvet pieces combine sublimated photographs with hand-embroidered holographic thread — landscapes rendered in a medium that is soft, tactile, and slow to reveal itself. Her ceramics are hand-built from stoneware and painted with her own hair as a brush — spontaneous marks that record movement, breath, and the presence of the maker.
The work is rooted in landscape — particularly the American West — and in a long attention to what changes when a person changes their life.
Ryder’s ceramics were selected for Homo Faber Biennial 2026: An Island of Light in Venice. Her work has appeared in Architectural Digest, AD Italia, and Luxe Magazine, and is held in private collections across the United States.
BIOGRAPHY
Nicole Ryder’s work has grown out of a non-traditional path through art, entrepreneurship, and global experience. Before becoming a full-time artist, Ryder lived in South Korea on a Defense Department scholarship studying Korean in support of U.S. national security. Her time in Korea — and early encounters with Zen — led her away from diplomacy and toward a creative life. In the years that followed, she founded Worn Creative, a women-led creative agency in New York City that built campaigns for clients including Bumble, Walmart, Procter & Gamble and the City of New York. Her work from this era was profiled in The New Yorker’s Talk of the Town and The New York Times.
After almost a decade of creative entrepreneurship, Ryder shifted her focus fully to her studio practice. Her artwork is now held in private collections across the United States, including the collection of Lisa and Richard Perry, and has been placed in major interior design projects led by AD 100 designers such as Ghislaine Viñas and Julie Hillman. Her work has appeared in Architectural Digest, AD Italia, and Luxe Magazine.
COLLECTORS ON RYDER'S WORK
Private Collection — Wainscott, NY
“We first encountered Nicole’s work at a private exhibition and were instantly drawn in — its quiet intensity and shimmering embroidery were captivating.”
- Kass Lazerow
“I was immediately drawn to her work — soothing yet alive with an energy that’s hard to describe. Each time I walk into the room, I’m reminded of serenity and joy.”
- Kacey Karp
“Your vulnerability in the work frees the viewer to see, feel, and express what lives within them.”
- Dan P.
RYDER’S WORK LIVES IN COLLECTIONS ACROSS THE U.S.
Private Collection — Amagansett, NY
“Her professionalism, care, and artistry made the experience a joy. Nicole’s presence — and her work — have added lasting beauty and meaning to our lives.” - Cathy Sim