Ken Nicol is an artist based in Toronto, Ontario.
Ken’s work is marked by an obsession with collecting and turning everyday objects into works of art. He creates objects from start to finish by mundane repetition over countless hours. His process is methodical, laborious, and time consuming. The diverse materials he uses range from small dead bugs collected from his studio’s window, to grid paper, chewed matches and… sprinkles? Elements of his work include drawing, typing, metalwork, index cards, coffee cups, and improbable objects such as potato chips or salt packets.
Ken’s work has been featured both nationally and internationally; notable solo and group exhibitions have been held at Arsenal Contemporary Art (New York, NY), Gallery Stratford (Stratford, ON), Art Yard (Frenchtown, NJ), Kenderdine Art Gallery (Saskatoon, SK), The Rooms (St. John’s, NB), and The Power Plant (Toronto, ON). He is represented by Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto, ON.
Exhibitions
- 2026
Reminds Me of Home
2025Summer Group Show
2024Where We Left Off
2024Art Toronto 2024
2024seemed like a good idea at the time
2024Summer Group Exhibition
2024Winter Group Exhibition
2023Pattern Play
202350th Anniversary Group Show
2021ironic mile of irony
News Stories
Available Artworks
red, yellow, blue, black 1/64 - quarter mile, 2025
Ken Nicolink on paper, 17" x 17" paper / 19" x 19" framed
red orange yellow green blue purple - 1/64 grid, 2025
Ken Nicolink on paper, 7" x 17" paper / 9" x 19" framed
red orange yellow green blue purple - 1/32 grid, 2025
Ken Nicolink on paper, 7" x 17" paper / 9" x 19" framed
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[m]ultiple, 2024
Ken Nicolletterpress print, steel, aluminum shelf, 12.5 x 10.25" frame (each), 4" x 6" shelf, ed. of 25
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numbers as many as they are
Ken Nicolpencil on paper, steel, custom plinth, 10.5" x 10.5" framed (each), 53.25" x 10" x 10" plinth
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Iodized salt count - 11,328
Ken Nicolsalt packet, glass vial, stainless steel mount, 13" x 10" x 2.5" framed
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Iodized salt count - 11,673
Ken Nicolsalt packet, glass vial, stainless steel mount, 13" x 10" x 2.5" framed
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This is your life...video, ed. 1/3
Ken Nicol8hr video, typewritten ink on paper 31.5" x 21.5" framed (each)
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - red/red, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - red/yellow, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - red/blue, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - red/black, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - yellow/red, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
artwork detail
homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - yellow/yellow, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - yellow/blue, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - yellow/black, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - blue/red, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - blue/yellow, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - blue/black, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - black/red, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - black/yellow, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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homage to the fucking square - 16,000, tiny - black/blue, 2022
Ken Nicolink on paper, 13" x 20" paper / 15.5" 22.5" framed
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clusterfuck gradations - 5760, 1/16 grid - yellow, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 11.5" x 14.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 6912, tiny - red - version 2, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 11.5" x 11.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 6912, tiny - yellow - version 2, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 11.5" x 11.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 6912, tiny - black- version 2, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 11.5" x 11.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 10,800, small - yellow, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 16.5" x 16.5" framed
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homage to the fuckin square - 14,200, small (inverse) - yellow, 2024
Ken Nicolink on paper, 16.5" x 16.5" framed
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sol lewitt sentences mirror 3, 2019
Ken Nicolink and typewrtten ink on paper, 22" x 17" paper / 25.5” x 20.5” framed
flogging a dead horse #10, 2013
Ken Nicolink on paper (3 parts); pen, custom plinth dimensions variable
two index cards that don’t like each other trying to hide on a letter page, 2019
Ken Nicolink on paper 14.5” x 12”
