kay nowicki

Photography

Kay Nowicki was born and raised in Oneida, New York, and began photographing with her Grandmother’s old Polaroid Sun 600 at the age of 7, and her love for photography was born. Though her dream was to attend art school immediately after graduating from high school, financial circumstances delayed enrollment. At the age of eighteen she joined the United States Air Force where she spent the next six years working in Radio Frequency Communications. During her service, Nowicki volunteered her time to photograph active duty families and base events. After serving six years as an Airman, Nowicki received various decorations and awards, including two Air Force Accommodation medals for various communications missions which included providing direct telecommunications support for the former President of the United States, Barack Obama. After her service, Nowicki enrolled at the University of Colorado Denver to pursue a lifelong dream of studying photography. She is currently receiving a bachelor’s degree in fine art photography and minoring in creative writing. Nowicki has spent the last 4 years experimenting with analog processes, both traditional and alternative. She has found inspiration in the works of artists such as Gregory Crewdson, Michele Lyn, William Eggleston, Ted Kinsman, Steven Shore, Minor White, Francesca Woodman, and Robert Buelteman. The focus of Nowicki’s work revolves around the imperfections of expired photographic materials and the affects that electricity has on emulsion. As an artist, she explores invisible metaphysical energy through the embracement of decaying materials in which she offers a rebirth. Nowicki is a member of The National Honor Society, The Colorado Photographic Arts Center, The Society for Photographic Education, and the Veterans Trauma and Health Clinic’s Creative Voices Workshop. Currently, Nowicki is the president of the University of Colorado Denver’s Photo Club and has been an officer for the past 3 semesters. Her work has been shown at two Denver galleries, The Emmanuel Gallery as well as Pirate Contemporary Art.