In the summer of 2022 Paul M. Nicholson joined Ithaca College as the new Director of the Handwerker Gallery. Since his arrival, he has enjoyed getting to know Ithaca, its students, and his many gracious colleagues who have welcomed him into the community. The first year featured a series of successful exhibitions with artists from all over the northeast. For the 2023-2024 school year, the Handwerker returned with guest artists and curators from farther afield through a series of dynamic exhibitions, ultimately culminating in our annual Senior Show, guest curated graduating senior Angela Russell '24 His continued campus engagement through public programming is made possible by his talented and dedicated student student staff and the support of the Art, Art History, and Architecture [AAHA] Departments of Ithaca College. Additionally, the Handwerker was pleased to bring back the Rotunda Teaching Gallery, which had been shuttered for over a decade. This revitalization was made possible through the construction of an additional wall, which will allow us to better secure works in our care. The Rotunda space is used as a teaching gallery where faculty can highlight projects happening in their classes in a space adjacent to the Handwerker's main galleries. This provisional space will be managed in part by Handwerker Gallery Monitors studying art and promises greater access to exhibition more students throughout the year.
For the 2024/25 school year, his Gallery program looks inward, as we are pleased to highlight faculty work in an all AAHA Faculty show opening in January of 2025, as well as solo shows by IC faculty Julianne Hunter and Amber Lia Koppel in the Fall and Spring semesters. Additionally, we look forward to hosting an array of visiting artists paired with talks and other programming across the two semesters including Hans Gindlesberger, Robert Hickerson, Andrew Ellis Johnson, and Susanne Slavick.
Paul came to Ithaca College from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he was the Director of the Martin Art Gallery for the past seven years. As Director of the Martin, he curated dozens of contemporary art exhibitions, oversaw its permanent collection, and expanded its physical footprint. He also worked to integrate the gallery more fully into the intellectual life of the college and the wider Lehigh Valley arts community. Before moving to Muhlenberg, he founded several non-profit art galleries and spaces in New York City and Buffalo and worked in student advising and program administration at the Parsons School of Design.
He is also a multidisciplinary artist with a MFA in Art from SUNY Buffalo and a BFA from SUNY Fredonia. To see some of his recent work, please check out his Instagram.