Don Nice (1932–2019) was an American painter, printmaker, and educator celebrated for his contributions to pop realism. His work blends elements of pop art and realism, creating vibrant, detailed portrayals of everyday subjects.
Nice was born in Visalia, California, in 1932. He studied at the University of Southern California and the Yale School of Art, where he honed his artistic skills. After serving in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957, Nice spent several years in Europe. In 1959, he married Sandra Kay Smith.
Nice taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Minneapolis School of Art, the School of Visual Arts, and served as an artist-in-residence at Dartmouth College.
Early in his career, Nice worked in the Abstract Expressionist style, but by the 1960s, he shifted towards pop art. His work was featured in the 1968 exhibition Realism Now at Vassar College and in the Rubber Stamp Portfolio published in the late 1970s. By the 1980s, his work began to incorporate landscapes of the Hudson River Valley, further enriching his exploration of American scenes and everyday life.
Nice's work is represented in many major collections, including those of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Don Nice passed away in 2019 in Cortlandt, New York. His legacy continues through his influential contributions to pop realism, with works that capture the intersection of art and the everyday world. His detailed, vibrant depictions remain an important part of American visual culture.
