ABOUT

Nicole van der Wal is a documentary, event, and commercial studio photographer based out of Massachusetts. Her journey is deeply intertwined with her love for the outdoors, where she can often be found cycling. From early on, she dedicated her spare time to immersing herself in nature, fostering connections with people, and cultivating a sense of community. These experiences have shaped her perspective, infusing her work with a unique blend of warmth, inclusivity, and a keen understanding of the human experience.

Passionate about the natural world, her work serves as a powerful tool to shed light on pressing environmental issues. Delving into topics such as consumption, pollution, and society's complex relationship with the land. Through her art, she aims to spark conversations, inspire change, and foster a greater appreciation for the delicate balance between humanity and the planet we call home.

Currently serving as an assistant studio photographer at Ocean State Job Lot, Nicole brings her artistic vision and dedication to every project.

In the evolving work of Nicole van der Wal, each frame tells a story of connection, community, and a profound reverence for the environment through visual storytelling and the pursuit of positive change.

Photo by: Messina Martinez

Photo by: Messina Martinez

Professional Experience

Ocean State Job Lot - Assistant Photographer, May 2021-Present

Education

Lesley Art + Design - BFA in Photography. Minor in Entrepreneurship, 2020

Publications

  • RI Monthly

    • 2020 December Issue: City State: Out Takes

Exhibitions 

  • Interrupt - Gravedigger’s Daughter Gallery

    • November 2021

  • Lesley Art + Design Thesis Exhibition

    • April 2020

  • Tomorrow’s Tomorrow - Gallery South, Cambridge MA

    • Juried by CJ Heyliger

    • April 2020

  • Hands - re-direct gallery

    • April 2020

  • What We’ve Found-Mass Production - Aint-Bad

    • April 2020

  • The 2020 Self-Quarantining Exhibition - Lenscratch

    • April 2020

    Undergraduate Photography NOW VIII - Hosted Online by AREA Gallery 

    • Juried by Greer Muldowney and Gorden Wilkins

    • March 2020 

  • Double Vision - Gallery South, Cambridge MA

    • February 2020

  • Documenting Life: Mexico - Centro Fotográfico Álvarez Bravo, Oaxaca, Mexico 

    • January 2020

  • & MORE - Gallery South, Cambridge MA

    • November 2019

  • Output - Gallery South, Cambridge MA

    • Juried by Justin Kaneps

    • October 2019

  • Free Range - Gallery South, Cambridge MA

    • September 2019

  • PRC Student Show - Photographic Resource Center, Cambridge MA

    • April 2019

  • LA+D Pop Up - Kathryn Schultz Gallery, Cambridge MA

    • April 2019

  • Undergraduate Photography NOW VII - Photographic Resource Center, Cambridge MA

    • Juried by Greer Muldowney and Gorden Wilkins

    • March 2019

  • Gesture - Gallery South, Cambridge MA

    • February 2019