Born in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 1984, Gaitan is a self-taught artist who has been painting for as long as she can remember. While attending the University of California at Santa Cruz, she studied the History of Art and Visual Culture, working summers at Horizon Fine Art Gallery in Jackson Hole. Her undying affection for art continues to guide her career to new and exciting heights.  

Her unique style can be attributed to finding light and joy in darkness and difficult times. As the viewer gazes at the animals she depicts, we see that each subject—like each snowflake—is entirely unique. Her daughter has fought leukemia and through that struggle, Nicole has found different styles that express the varying times and trials in her life of both happiness and overcoming sorrow. Just as we all must do to prevail throughout life.

For Nicole, contrast is the primary focus, whether that is expressed through expansive color pockets or complex punctuations. She has exhibited her work for over ten years in galleries, solo exhibitions, public art displays, and festivals. Gaitan’s work is collected internationally, featured in publications like Western Art Collector, and commissioned by the Orvis Company.  

Both captivating and enigmatic, Gaitan creates her outlines by squeezing paint directly from the bottle, then adds the seemingly wild colors with palette knives and brushes. The results are dynamic creatures that vibrate with life and personality, filling the space they inhabit with brilliance and joy.