Nicolas Coleman

Nicolas Lambelet Coleman (b. 1998, Durham, North Carolina) is a Swiss-American painter who lives and works in San Francisco, California. He graduated from Duke University in 2020 with a BA in Visual Arts and Political Science.

Painting has always been a natural part of his identity. Growing up in an environment where the arts were celebrated, influenced particularly by his grandmother who was herself an artist, he developed an instinctive connection to image-making. His work reimagines his surroundings while exploring both how he sees himself and how he is perceived by others.

Autobiography is central to his practice. Coleman’s paintings draw on everyday routines and pivotal moments, often incorporating self-portraiture alongside still lifes and family scenes. He uses painting as a visual language to express his place in the world, translating personal experience into a form of universal resonance.

Influenced by the domestic and physical landscapes around him, he frequently returns to the colors, patterns, and objects that define lived spaces. These references enrich his compositions with nuance and authenticity. 

Previous solo exhibitions include PM/AM, London (2023); Thierry Goldberg, NYC (2023); and Steve Turner, LA (2023). He has also participated in major fairs including Untitled Miami and solo booths at 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair and EXPO Chicago. In spring 2024, he completed a residency at Black Rock Senegal in Dakar, founded by Kehinde Wiley.

His work has been highlighted in publications such as Artnet, Artnews, Elephant Magazine, and Dazed. In May 2025, one of his paintings was acquired by the Nasher Museum of Art for their permanent collection.