Portland-born artist Nicky Kriara is a painter and sculptor. Her work is large, abstract, and experimental. She has completed a number of murals, temporary installations, and public art pieces. She studied painting in Los Angeles, CA and Amherst, MA before earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The University of Oregon in ceramics and installation art. Her background includes working on stop-motion animation films as a scenic painter and test animator. She now runs a ceramic design and production company called Niko Far West.