Finding Beauty in the Friction: My Work in Next Levels at NoName Gallery

by Nicci Sevier-Vuyk

I'm thrilled to share that my artwork has been selected for Next Levels, a group exhibition  opening July 4th, 2025, at No Name Gallery in Philadelphia. Being selected alongside nine other  talented artists for this show focused on pop art's expressive power speaks directly to my  artistic vision. 

Curator Jonene Lee describes the exhibition as exploring how art "captures emotion, tells untold  stories, and invites us to pause, reflect, and feel." She reminds us that "art is one of the most  powerful ways to be seen, heard, and understood." Jonene's theme resonates with my work,  which deliberately creates friction between societal expectations and individual experience. I'm  drawn to subjects that highlight the tension between what society tells us is desirable and what  our personal experiences reveal. 

The Sweet Lie of Perfection 

Consider the subject of my Candy Totem series: These iconic conversation heart candies  embody a fascinating contradiction. They come in beautiful pastel colors, evoke nostalgia, and  have little declarations of love on them, all of this wrapped around something that simply  doesn't taste very good. The idea that TRUE LOVE can be expressed on mediocre candy feels  both ironic and trite. 

Totem: MAYBE

By stacking these hearts and presenting them as totems, objects of cultural significance that  serve as societal emblems, I'm asking viewers to consider the substance behind our cultural  icons. Do they deserve their elevated status, or have we simply accepted their importance  without questioning their actual value? 

Finding Beauty in Imperfection 

My toy car series explores similar territory but from the opposite perspective. I celebrate the  worn, used cars that society tells us are "less than", highlighting the beautiful texture that  comes from actual play and use. There's something fundamentally wrong when toys have more value when they're trapped in boxes, unused and "mint condition," than when they've fulfilled  their purpose of bringing joy. 

Flaming Muscle

That's exactly what I hope my work in No Name Gallery’s exhibition, Next Levels, will  accomplish: creating that moment of pause where viewers might reconsider their own  relationship with cultural expectations and discover what they genuinely find meaningful. If you're in the area, I'd love for you to come see the show and experience all the powerful,  expressive pop art in person.

View Nicci's work now until August 31st

Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 12pm -5pm

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Shop Nicci's Collection

Nicci Sevier-Vuyk