Statement

Animals have populated my work for over 30 years. Perhaps it was the synthesis of Saturday morning cartoons and my experience growing up in the Canadian North that influenced my perceptions. I prefer animals to humans; they have more integrity. They allow me to address relationships in a subverted manner, forcing the viewer to dig deeper if they desire more meaning.

The landscape has always been a staged environment in my work. A setting for characters to act out a narrative. My works are more akin to a still life than landscape paintings. Landscapes provide a setting that is about memory, but not nostalgia. They incorporate historical symbolism and a literal expression of what’s out my back door.

Biography

Nachtigall’s work examines popular culture narratives that permeate the contemporary zeitgeist.

Play is a cornerstone of his practice and often masks a subversive message that both mirrors and critiques the politics of our time.

His unapologetic approach is both sardonic and philosophical, firing a warning shot over the bow of ideological fixations. An acquired brain injury in his early teens altered his brain, resulting in a disinhibition that has seen his work both celebrated and censored.

Formalism collides with a punk rock sensibility. His pop culture mash-ups explore the liminal space between the natural and built environment. The animal kingdom acts as our proxy, as his paintings are noticeably devoid of the human figure, replaced by a colourful bestiary cavorting in fantastic landscapes that echo scenes from speculative fiction.

Pragmatism is key to his methodology as he employs an egalitarian approach to materials, subject matter, and mark making; disregarding and challenging traditional and historical art world hierarchies. These high and low art sensibilities converge resulting in nonlinear narratives that engage the viewer as an active participant, asking them to complete the conversation that the painting begins.

Curriculum Vitæ

Education

BFA, University of Regina, 1993
MFA candidate, Illinois State University, 1993-94

Solo Exhibitions

2021 “Barrhead Supersonic”, Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary, AB
2021 “MoTA”, Museum of Temporary Art, Silton, SK
2018 “Peripatetic Allegories”, Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary, AB
2015 “Wild Men”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
2014 “Cinnamon and Censorship”, Grande Prairie Art Gallery, Grand Prairie, AB 2009 “Barbarians, Bears and Beavers: The Return to the Plains of Abraham”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
2006 “Strip”, Nouveau Gallery, Regina, SK
2006 “Some Drawings”, Other Gallery, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, AB
2004 “Eden “, Latitude 53, Edmonton, AB
2004 “Re”, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
2004 “Un”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
2004 “Excerpts From Conversations With Myself”, Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, Moose Jaw, SK
2003 “Excerpts From Conversations With Myself”, Kenderdine Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
2003 “Mostly True Stories”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, SK
2003 “Search & Destroy”, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON
2003 “The Evolution of Pollution”, Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina, SK
2002 “Space Invaders”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary AB
2002 “Don’t Know If I’m Right, But I’m Not Wrong”, Project Room, Art Miami, Miami, FL
2002 “Excerpts From Conversations With Myself”, Prairie Art Gallery, Grand Prairie, AB
2002 “Research & Development”, Fifth Parallel Gallery, University of Regina, Regina, SK
2002 “Inbred”, Multicultural Art Gallery, Pier 21, Halifax, NS
2001 “Excerpts From Conversations With Myself”, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, AB
2001 “Jeff Nachtigall”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, SK
2001 “Excerpts From Conversations With Myself”, Art Gallery of Swift Current NEC, Swift Current, SK
2001 “Excerpts From Conversations With Myself”, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
1999 “Folker-99”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, SK
1999 “Cinnamon”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
1996 “Cannon Fodder”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan

Art Fairs & Group Exhibitions

2021 Art Now, Slate Art Gallery, Regina, SK
2021 Art Toronto, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
2021 Group Exhibition, Norberg Hall, Calgary, AB
2020 10 Years Later, Norberg Hall, Calgary, AB
2019 “A Prairie Vernacular”, Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre, Buhler Gallery, Art Gallery of Swift Current, Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba
2019 Together But Apart, Norberg Hall, Calgary, AB
2014 “Emma Lake Collaboration”, AKA Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2014 “Wild Thing”, Lightbox Gallery, NYC
2012 “Urban Readymades”, College Art Galleries, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
2011 “(IN)ACCESSIBLE CITY”, Hamilton Artists Inc., Hamilton, ON (Curator)
2011 “Treasures”, Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2010 “(IN)ACCESSIBLE CITY”, AKA Gallery, Saskatoon, SK (Curator)
2010 “Artifact”, Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2010 “Toronto International Art Fair”, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
2008 “Wayne Gretzkey Rocks”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
2008 “Masterpiece; Investing in Today’s Art”, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
2007 “Painter Pants”, Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, Brandon, MB
2007 “100 Years of Collecting”, Kenderdine Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2007 ”The Insiders”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK (Curator)
2006 “Emma Perfect/Perfect Emma”, Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2005 "Winter", Nouveau Gallery, Regina, SK
2005 ”Sunscreen", Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
2005 “Grand Opening", Nouveau Gallery, Regina, SK
2004 “Art Chicago”, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
2004 “Trading Spaces”, Darrell Bell Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2004 “Making it Like a Man”, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
2004 “San Francisco International Art Exposition 6 “, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA
2004 “Sunscreen”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
2004 “A Fathers Day”, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK
2004 “Toronto International Art Fair”, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
2004 “25th Anniversary Show”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, SK
2003 “Art Chicago”, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
2003 “Scope Miami”, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, FL
2003 “San Francisco International Art Exposition 5”, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA
2003 “Biennial SCAM”, Art Gallery of Southwest Manitoba, Estevan Art Gallery & Museum, Art Gallery of Swift Current, Moose Jaw Art Museum, The Art Gallery of Prince Albert, Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery
2003 “Lodestar”, Kenderdine Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
2003 “Sunscreen”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
2003 “That’s My Wonderful Town”, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK “Summer Show”, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2003 “Scope LA”, Standard Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
2003 “Affordable Art Fair”, Pier 92, New York, NY
2003 “Arts Week” 401 Richmond, Toronto, ON
2003 “Toronto International Art Fair”, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
2002 “Uncommercial Art by Commercial Artists”, La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2002 “Deep Prairie”, Susan Whitney Gallery/ Lyons Wier Gallery, New York, NY
2002 “Art Miami”, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, FL
2002 “Western Panic!”, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary AB
2002 “San Francisco International Art Exposition 4”, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco CA
2002 “Relationships”, OSAC and the Saskatchewan Arts Board, Travelling Exhibition
2002 “Sequences”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
2002 “Always Today”, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
2002 “SOFA”, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, NY
2002 “Altars and Shrines”, The Little Gallery, Prince Albert, SK
2002 “The Small Object Show”, The Saskatchewan Craft Gallery, Saskatoon SK
2002 “Toronto International Art Fair”, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
2002 “Affordable Art Fair”, Pier 92, New York, NY
2002 “Art With Heart”, First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, ON
2002 “Red Dot 3”, Spector Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2001 “If You Could Read My Mind”, Swizzle Gallery, Toronto, ON
2001 “The Object Of Art”, Clark Gallery, Lincoln, MA
2001 “SOFA”, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, NY
2001 “Toronto International Art Fair”, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
2000 “Canada Survey: Prairies”, Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2000 “SOFA”, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, NY
2000 “Gallery Artists”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, SK
2000 “Burn Graceland, Burn”, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
2000 “Re-imaging the Prairie Icon” The Little Gallery, Prince Albert, SK
2000 “SOFA”, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
2000 “Strangers In A Strange Land”, Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina SK
1999 “Gallery Artists”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, SK
1999 “Ignition”, Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, Calgary, AB
1999 “SOFA”, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, NY
1999 “STUDIO, Clearance Block, Calgary, AB
1999 “25th Anniversary Show”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, SK
1998 “SOFA”, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, NY
1998 “Introductions 98”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
1998 “SOFA”, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
1998 “Tea Party II”, Prime Gallery, Toronto, ON
1998 “Holiday Collection”, Prime Gallery, Toronto, ON
1998 “Uncommon” Clark Gallery, Lincoln, MA
1998 “Mail Art: Alternative Bookworks", Muttart Public Art Gallery, Calgary, AB
1998 “Wild in the City ", BCE Place Atrium, Toronto, ON
1997 “Christmas show”, Prime Gallery, Toronto, ON
1997 “November XX”, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary, AB
1997 SOFA”, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
1997 “Last Picture Show”, Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
1997 “Graceland”, Graceland Junkyard, Calgary, AB
1997 “Tradition Transformed”, Calgary the Urban Landscape” Triangle Gallery of isual Arts, Calgary, AB
1995 “The Cowboy Show”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1995 “The CD Show”, Neutral Ground, Regina, Saskatchewan

Selected Awards

The Freda Mesbur Prize for Printmaking, 1993
Saskatchewan Arts Board Individual Assistance Grant, 1996 Saskatchewan Arts Board “B” grant, 2002
Canada Council Travel Grant, 2002, 2019
Saskatchewan Arts Board Artist in the Community Grant, 2007
Saskatchewan Arts Board Independent Artist Grant, 2010, 2016
Saskatchewan Arts Board Artist in Residence Grant, 2008, 2009

Collections (Selected)

Nordstrom, Vancouver, BC, Austin, TX, Toronto, ON
Brownlee and Fryett, Calgary, AB
City of Regina, Regina, SK
Art Center, Jamestown, ND
DEC Interactive Inc., Calgary, AB
Trinity Lutheran Church, Regina,SK
Kenderdine Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
Saskatchewan Arts Board, Regina, SK
Hospital Art Foundation, Regina, SK
Saskatchewan Cancer Centre, Saskatoon, SK
Contemporary Office Interiors, Calgary, AB
St. Marks Lutheran Church, Regina, SK
Luther College, Regina, SK
Hunter Miller, Regina, SK
Burnet Duckworth and Palmer, Calgary, AB
Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton, AB
Sherbrooke Community Centre, Saskatoon,SK
Royal Bank of Canada
Simon’s Corperate, Calgary, AB