Biography

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Ms. Nygren graduated from Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Virginia cum laude with BA in both studio art and art history. She received her MFA from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

An accomplished equine and sporting artist, Ms. Nygren has won numerous awards over the past several years. She placed 2nd in the animal category for the 11th International ARC Salon Competition, with her work exhibited at the MEAM in Barcelona, Spain followed by an exhibition at the Salmagundi Club, NY. She has consistently been a finalist or semi-finalist in subsequent International ARC Salon Competitions through 2024. Additionally, Ms. Nygren has repeatedly won or placed in the American Academy of Equine Artists (AAEA) juried competitions, along with numerous other national and international competitions. Ms. Nygren has been a frequent participant in the Society of Animal Artist (SAA), Oil Painters of America (OPA), and American Women Artists competitions. She was recently the Artist of Record for the Windsor Charity Polo Cup in Vero Beach, Florida.

Her work has appeared in numerous publications: American Art Collector, Sidelines Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, Fine Arts Connoisseur, Chronicle of the Horse, The Artist’s Magazine, Western Art Collector, Nashville Arts Magazine and Vero Beach Magazine.

Working in larger formats, her work is primarily held in private collections in the US and Argentina, focusing on the sporting art of polo. Similarly, she has work in private collections in the Hunter Jumper category, and has recently expanded into western art of the horse as well. Private commissions command the majority of her painting time, though she tries to reserve time for her own projects.

Painting in traditional oils within a modern format, has become a trademark of her work. Capturing the inherent spirit, character and personality of each horse is the inherent privilege of her painting. Whether it’s a portrait, or a captured moment in action, there is nothing nobler than the horse and his relationship with the rider.

She never wants the viewer to be aware of the process, rather, just be aware of the subject. The intent is to find a balance between traditional painting and contemporary composition, intentionally focusing the eye on the subject. Integral to that is attention to anatomy, motion, emotion, dimensional volume, weight and tension, which all contribute to paintings that capture not only the “portrait” of the horse, but the nuanced and unique power and strength of equine form. It’s that unique relationship – that level of trust, partnership and athleticism, the translating that relationship to canvas, is what she finds to be the ultimate challenge.

She is a Signature Member of the American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA); Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists (SAA); Associate Member of Distinction, American Women Artists (AWA); Associate Member, Oil Painters of America (OPA); and a Member of the Portrait Society of America.
Ms. Nygren currently lives and works in Wisconsin.