Open Studio Gallery Presents: Frederick Nitsch's Nervous Circus
- Project Onward Staff
- Mar 29
- 3 min read
April 5th - May 3rd
Opening April 5th 5:00PM-7:00PM
901 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60602
We are thrilled to announce The Nervous Circus, the highly anticipated solo exhibition by collage artist and abstract painter Frederick Nitsch. This marks Nitsch's first solo show since 2020, and it promises to be a captivating exploration of layered textures, thought-provoking imagery, and a deep dive into the artist’s creative evolution.
Frederick Nitsch (b. 1984) is an artist whose work defies easy categorization. Known for his vibrant mixed media pieces and intricate collage work, Nitsch's art often feels like an invitation into a world where form, texture, and meaning collide in unexpected ways. The Nervous Circus will showcase a selection of his newest works, created over the past year, which reflect his constant evolution as an artist.
As an artist with Project Onward, Nitsch’s art speaks to the power of process and the beauty of imperfections. His work is defined by an accumulation of layers—each one adding depth, complexity, and texture. The result is a visual experience that feels both chaotic and harmonious, like a conversation between colors, forms, and fragments of text. Through his bold use of sharp-edged shapes and a brilliant varnish sheen, Nitsch creates pieces that are as visually arresting as they are intellectually stimulating.
What makes Nitsch’s work so compelling is his ability to transform the mundane into something mysterious and profound. Many of his pieces incorporate fragments cut from vintage magazines—black and white photos of faded grandeur and staccato phrases that often feel like riddles, inviting the viewer to delve deeper. The juxtaposition of these fragments against the vivid, almost ethereal backgrounds creates a sense of tension and curiosity, as if the pieces are part of a larger, untold narrative.
Nitsch describes his process as a kind of self-collaboration, where he “does an exquisite corpse with himself.” This reference to the surrealist game underscores the spontaneity and fluidity of his creative process—each layer and element building upon the last, leading to unexpected and often unpredictable results. For Nitsch, art is both an escape from and a reflection of his thoughts, a way to process ideas that transcend the intellectual and enter the realm of emotion, intuition, and visual poetry.
Frederick’s artistic journey is deeply personal. Once a defector from the world of academic philosophy, he initially turned to art to escape the confines of structured thought. Over time, however, he came to realize that art, for him, was not just a means of escape, but a way to engage with his ideas in a more visceral and direct way. It is through his work that Nitsch has found a language to explore and express the complex intersection of thought, emotion, and visual experience.
The Nervous Circus is not just an exhibition—it’s an invitation to immerse yourself in a world where meaning is constructed layer by layer, where fragments of the past collide with present-day abstractions, and where the viewer is encouraged to question, explore, and reflect. Frederick Nitsch’s work is a celebration of the unexpected, of contradictions, and of the beautiful complexity of the human experience.
Join us at the 901 Gallery at 901 Sherman Ave in Evanston, for the opening of The Nervous Circus, a collection of art that challenges, inspires, and, most of all, invites you to see the world through a different lens.
Frederick Nitsch lives and works in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood with his two beloved cats, Wendy and Wally. He was a founding member of Chicago’s cooperatively run Agitator Gallery, a space dedicated to the promotion of alternative art practices and community-driven initiatives.
Don’t miss the chance to experience this extraordinary show in person at the 901 Gallery through the Open Studio Project. We look forward to seeing you there.