Nik Nerburn (b. Bemidji, MN, 1989) is an artist living and working in Minneapolis. His cross-disciplinary photos, films, installations, and sculptures reflect his passion for people’s histories from places that are “off the map”. His wide-ranging work addresses urgent subjects like toxic masculinity and the rural-urban divide, while also centering craft, generosity, trust, and humor.
Drawing from the collaborative traditions of puppetry and documentary filmmaking, he works with amateur genealogists, community archivists, neighborhood clubs, small town philosophers, and little museums.
He is the recipient of a 2018 Jerome Foundation Film and Video Production Grant, and he has been supported by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, ArtPlace America, and Springboard For The Arts. He holds an M.F.A. from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a B.A. from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. He teaches high school photography in Minneapolis.
Contact: datanodata@gmail.com
Select Screenings and Exhibitions
2024.
Mostly True book launch with Bill Daniel, Craig Baldwin, Greta Snyder, Martha Colburn, Anson Cyr, Abby Banks, Rankin Renwick, and Linda Scobie. Artists Television Access, San Francisco, CA
2023.
Invoke Any Magic You Have, New London Little Theatre, New London, MN
The Old Longing Camp, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
2022.
Diplome Exhibition, Kunstakademie Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
2019.
2018.
Guest artist, School of the Arts Rhinelander. Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
Community design charrette and discussion, Pike School of Art - Mississippi. In collaboration with community members, including formerly incarcerated juveniles, I helped facilitate a workshop to consider the community function of the old McComb juvenile detention center, which will become the future home of the Pike School of Art. McComb, Mississippi.
2017.
“Surveying the Prairie Avant-Garde” screening at the Kirkbride Arts and History Weekend, Fergus Falls, MN.
“Window to the West” photo and painting show in Lincoln Park, Duluth, MN.
Lecture-performance with Jais Gossman on “Ole's Long Walk”, New London, MN.
View from the Woodpile photo show with Charvis Harell and Jermaine Causey at the Ampersand Artist Guild, Macon, GA.
Community screening at The Spot, Fergus Falls, MN
Psycho-Geography Screening, Other Cinema, San Francisco, CA
Rural Arts and Culture Summit, Morris, MN
2016.
Interference Archive in collaboration with NOW! A Journal of Radical Praxis, Brooklyn, NY
False Histories show at Nothing To See Here screening series, Denver, CO.
2015.
2014.
Headwaters Film Festival, Bemidji, MN
With Georg Kaszulinski and Rankin Renwick, IPRC, Portland, OR
University of Oregon Documentary Production Class, Eugene, OR
House Show with Christer Bechtell, Olympia, WA
Installation for Northern Spark, projection on the Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts building, Minneapolis, MN
Education
2023. Master of Fine Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
2018. Artists Working in Community Training, Springboard for the Arts, Fergus Falls, MN.
2013. Bachelor of Arts, Emphasis in History and Documentary Filmmaking, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA.
2007. Graduate, Perpich Center for Arts Education. Emphasis in Media Arts, Golden Valley, MN.
Professional Work
2023-2024. Photography Instructor, Breck School, Minneapolis, MN
2023. Studio assistant, Michael Sommers
2023. Introduction to Photography instructor of record, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2022. Visiting Artist, Kunstakademie Kalrsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
2020-2023. Teacher’s Assistant, University of Minnesota Art Department
2020-2022. Studio assistant, Chris Larson, St. Paul
2014. Studio assistant, Craig Baldwin, Other Cinema, San Francisco, CA
2013-14. Intern, Canyon Cinema, San Francisco, CA
2012. Intern, The Evergreen State College Film Collection, Olympia, WA
Residencies, Grants, Community Engagement
2021. Judd Fellow, University of Minnesota
2019. Artist in Residence, Crystal Creek Citizen Artist Residency, Houston, MN
2018. Jerome Foundation Film/Video production grant
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Career Development Grant
ArtPlace America Community Development Investment Program project grant
2017. Presenter, Alliance of Artist Communities Conference, Denver, CO
Artist in Residence, Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN
2016. Artist in Residence, New York Mills Kulcher Center, New York Mills, MN
2015. Artist in Residence, Hinge Arts, Fergus Falls, MN
2014. Artist, Northern Spark