about the artist

University of California, Santa Cruz, BFA 1983

University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, 1980-81

Residencies/Grants:

Studios Midwest, Galesburg, IL, 1999

Ucross Foundation Residency, Clearmont, WY 2002

Solo and Two Person Exhibitions:

2009

"Nila Oakes: Beyond Survival"
J.G. Robinson, M.D. Regional Cancer Center, San Pablo, CA

2007

Nila Oakes Art Show
Studio 7 Fine Arts, Pleasanton, CA

2004

"All Those Who Wander: Reflections of Journeys Past"
Charlston Heights Arts Center, Las Vegas, NV

2003

“Plein Air and Studio Airs: Landscapes by Nila Oakes and Keith Wicks”
curated by William Torphy, 255 California Street, San Francisco, CA

2001

"Oil Paintings by Nila Oakes"
Vermilion Art, Sonoma, CA

"New Work by Nila Rusnell Oakes"
Curated by William Torphy, 455 Market Street, San Francisco, CA

2000

"Light on the Land: Illuminations Structural and Atmospheric; New Work by Linda Grebmeier and Nila Rusnell Oakes"
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA

1998

"Night and Day: Mernie Buchanan & Nila Rusnell Oakes"
Prism Gallery, Benicia, CA

"Nila Rusnell Oakes: Paintings"
Art @ Mike, San Francisco, CA

1997

"Recent Landscapes"
Benicia Public Library Gallery, Benicia, CA

"The Zahn Group Presents Artist Nila Rusnell"
Zahn Group, San Francisco, CA

1993

"The Virtues"
Trinity Episcopal Church, San Francisco, CA

1991

"The Incandescent Inferno; Homework: Inquiries into the Use of the Home as Museum"
Secession Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1990

"Potrero Night Sky Paintings: New Work By N.K. Rusnell"
Live Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1982

"Have a Good Time in Reno"
Provost's Gallery, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA

1981

"L'Art Pour L'Art"
Bridge Gallery, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2007

"Landscapes: Rural and Urban Realities"
The Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA

2006

Studio 7 Fine Arts, Pleasanton, CA
Dolby Chadwick Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2005

“Traces of Light”
Chemeketa Community College Art Gallery, Salem, OR

“Alpha Omega”
Maude Kerns Art Center, Eugene, Oregon

“National Juried Group Show”
Campbell Hall Gallery, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR

2004

“Atmospheric Perspectives”
Lou Bernal Gallery, Tucson, AZ

“Approaching Landscape”
TransAmerica Building, San Francisco, CA

“January Juried Show”
Marion Parmenter juror, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes, CA

“Portals and Passages”
Carol Austin juror, Indian Valley Artists Gallery, Novato, CA

2003

Gallery artists group show
Studio Seven Fine Arts, Pleasanton, CA

1999

"Five Ways of Seeing: Studios Midwest 1999 Visiting Artist Exhibition"
Knox College, Ford Center for the Fine Arts, Galesburg, IL

"Northern National Juried Art Competition"
Christopher Brown juror, Nicolet College Gallery, Rhinelander, WI

"The Prism Gallery Group Show"
Prism Gallery, Benicia, CA

1998

"Revolver"
Traywick Gallery, Berkeley, CA

"Four Benicia Artists"
Epperson Gallery, Crockett, CA

1997

"Get In Here"
Traywick Gallery, Berkeley, CA

"Favorite Places"
Benicia City Hall, Benicia, CA

Gallery Artists' Group Show
Studio 41, Benicia, CA

Gallery Artists' Group Show
Cilmi Gallery, Sausalito, CA

1996

"Dreams/Visions/Demons"
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

"Rethinking Beauty"
Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

"Landscapes II"
Curated by Robin Bradford, Co-op 52 Gallery, Occidental, CA

"Art Auction 1996"
The Lab, San Francisco, CA

"Art of a Community 1996"
Arts Benicia Center Gallery, Benicia, CA

1995

"Diablo From the Delta"
Curated by Warren Dreher, Lynn House Antioch Museum, Antioch, CA

"The Continued Landscape"
organized and co-curated Plein Aire arts festival incorporating lectures, workshops, and exhibitions, Arts Benicia Center Gallery, Benicia, CA

"Birds in Paradise"
Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA

"Images and Objects 1995"
ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, CA

"Art Auction 1995"
The Lab, San Francisco, CA

1994

"Bay to Delta"
Weir Gallery, Berkeley, CA

"Second Annual Arts Benicia Art Auction"
Arts Benicia Center Gallery, Benicia, CA

"2nd Biennial Watercolor Competition and Exhibition"
Triton Museum, Santa Clara, CA

1993

"The Virtues"
Headlands Center for the Arts Open House, Marin, CA

1992

"The Prometheus Paintings"
Headlands Center for the Arts Open House, Marin, CA

1991

"The Segmented Plane"
Security Pacific Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"Addressing Issues"
San Jose Art League Gallery, Sponsored by Women's Caucus for Art, San Jose, CA

"7 After Eve"
Earth Drama Lab, Life on the Water, San Francisco, CA

1990

"San Francisco Open Studio Directory Exhibition"
SOMAR Gallery, San Francisco, CA

"In the Shadow of a Doubt"
Klub Komotion, San Francisco, CA

"7 After Eve"
Artist's Television Access, San Francisco, CA

"What Time it is"
Artist's Television Access, San Francisco, CA

"Works on Paper"
Koret Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

1988

"Artists Documentary Exhibition"
Northside Bank Gallery, Sponsored by Association of Williamsburg Artists, Brooklyn, NY

1986

"By Association: Narrative and Subject Related Work"
Minor Injury Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

"Park Slope Artists' Council Group Exhibition"
Federal Plaza, New York, NY

1985

"New Talent"
Marilyn Pearl Gallery, New York, NY

"Loft 2 Art Exhibition"
Bush Terminal, Brooklyn, NY

"State of Mind - State of the Union"
Basement Workshop, New York, NY

1984

"Art & Ego"
New York Academy of Art, Sponsored by Pan Arts, New York, NY

1982

"The Red Blood Cell: A Tiny Dynamo"
SCRAWL Gallery, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA

Reviews and Publications:

Williams, Jerry. “Musings on Process”, Jerry William’s quARTerly, winter, 2005

Twardy, Chuck. “Oakes describes impressions of time and wind, “ Las Vegas Weekly, Sept.30 Oct 6, 2004

Townsend, Jami. "What's Going on in the Studio," Galesburg Register-Mail, July 3, 1999

Raskin-Zrihen, Rachel. "Prism reflects local artists," Vallejo Times-Herald, November 20, 1998, pg. C1

Toronto, Richard. "New First Street gallery features local artists," Benicia Herald, November 1, 1998, pg. 1

Toronto, Richard. "Artist Rusnell's Landscapes on exhibit in library," Benicia Herald, August 8, 1997, pg. 1

Oliverius, Jackie. "Community News: Good Neighbor," Solano Times, August 21, 1997, pg. 3

"Out on the Town: Recent Landscapes," Benicia Herald, August 1, 1997

Pulkka, Wesley. "Artists seek essence of beauty," Albuquerque Journal, December 6, 1997

Jacobson, Catherine. "Studios Open for annual spring tour," Solano Times, April 25, 1996, pg. 1

studioNOTES, pg. 3, August-July 1995

"Emeryville's 9th Annual Art Fest", Arts Benicia Artifact, September-November 1995, pg. 2

Rothrock, Kate. "New Exhibit Brightens Council Chambers," Arts Benicia Artifact, March-May 1995

Neri, Kate. "On the Walls of City Hall," Arts Benicia Artifact, August-October 1994

"Homeworks: Inquiries into the home as museum," Secession Gallery: Gallery News, Spring 1992

Wang, Selena. "Home is Where the Art is," San Francisco Bay Guardian, August 21, 1991, pg.41

Powers, Ann. "Hearth & Home: modern domesticity", San Francisco Weekly, July 24, 1991, pg. 47