Ten Questions With Chesterfield Artist Louis Nahlik

This week, Patch introduces you to Chesterfield Resident Louis Nahlik, a painter and graphic designer whose work of art, “Skyscapes Metrolink,” is currently on display in the "Drift" exhibit at Art St. Louis.

Drift—the current juried exhibit at Art St. Louis—examines our movement from East and West, our relationship to nature and the world around us, and how people are affected by time, space and movement. The exhibit is in partnership with Artist's Guild of St. Louis in Clayton, Mo, where artwork on the Drift theme is also being shown.

Chesterfieldian Louis Nahlik's triptich, “Skyscapes Metrolink,” explores this theme with his artistic view of power lines suspended above Metrolink train stations. Patch talked to Nahlik about his beginnings as an artist and where his art is headed.

Patch: When did you first develop an interest in art?

Nahlik: In high school, I was mostly interested in English, but I took some art classes and it really clicked.

Patch: Did you study art in college?

Nahlik: I went to UMSL At first, I was studying English and writing. I was a lost cause. I mean, what do you do with that? I switched to art. My parents are pretty understanding.

Patch: Do you have a job working with art?

Nahlik: Yes, I'm a graphic designer at Kaldi's Coffee in St. Louis.

Patch: “Skycrapes Metrolink” in the Drift exhibit is an abstract piece. Have you always worked in the abstract form?

Nahlik: No, I had done a lot of realism stuff. It was kind of a natural movement for me into abstract work.

Patch: What was the technical process for “Skycrapes Metrolink?” Is it a photograph?

Nahlik: I started with photographs and abstracted them.

Patch: Your piece is a triptich. How did you choose the order in which they are displayed?

Nahlik: I focused on how they move across—the way the lines connect.

Patch: How do you feel being selected for the exhibit? Do you get validation from being selected for a juried show?

Nahlik: Validation is a good word. Largely, I do it for myself, but it's nice to get it out there. See other people's reaction to it.

Patch: On your website, louisland, you have examples of you current work, “Squares,” which is also abstract. Will you continue with this style, or will you be moving into something else?

Nahlik: I'm going to continue with this series for a while then see what happens.

Patch: Do you have any final thoughts for Chesterfield residents?

Nahlik: It's kind of out of the way for Chesterfield people, but they should get out to see it. It's a good show.

Art Saint Louis is free and open to the public Mon, 10 am-4 pm; Tue-Fri; 10am.-5pm; and Sat, 10am-4pm. Closed Sundays, holidays and between exhibitions. For information on the Drift exhibit at St. Louis Artist's Guild, please visit the guild's website.