About the Artist
Nancie King Mertz
Master & Eminent Pastelist
Nancie has spent her lifetime painting in oil & pastel. She was awarded the Master Circle by Int’l Assoc. of Pastel Societies, Eminent Pastelist in 2018, and is a Master Signature member of Pastel Society of America, Degas Pastel Society & Chicago Pastel Painters. She has been a member of The Palette & Chisel of Fine Arts since 1988 and Plein air Painters since 2003--both based in Chicago.
Nancie juries, demos & teaches numerous workshops across the US, Italy, France & Croatia. She is on the faculty for the Plein Air Convention, Plein Air South, and the IAPS Convention. IAPS awarded her the Prix de Pastel in 2018. She was the lead juror for the 2019 IAPS Masters’ Show, and juried the 2022 PSA Enduring Brilliance Exhibition.
Her work has been featured in Plein Air Magazine, Southwest Art, American Artist, French & Chinese magazines, as well as the cover and several articles in Pastel Journal. She has traveled to over 20 countries to paint.
Nancie was a 3 year Instructor of Art at Eastern IL University where she received her MA in Painting two years after completing her BFA in Painting at the University of IL. She currently serves on their Graduate Advisory Board and received their Distinguished Alum Award as well as their Distinguished Graduate Alum Award..
She and her husband owned a gallery for 19 years in Chicago’s Lincoln Park/Lakeview. Nancie has owned a framing company since college, and they recently opened a Learning Center & Gallery, Art DeTriumph, in their home in Rockford, IL for pastel immersion, where artists can stay. She travels across the US and to Europe to conduct workshops for various Pastel organizations.
Her pastels are included in exhibits in museums in the US, China and Europe. She was the Guest of Honor of Art Du Pastel en France with a workshop and show of her work in Giverny in May, 2022.
You may find her work occasionally on set on TV shows and commercials. She was twice named "Chicago Artist of the Year". Contact her for a full list of awards and exhibitions.
