Nancy Tuttle May

Artist Bio

“Intense color continues to be the core of my process, sometimes brilliant and other rimes muted with hues hinting at the mystery of the process.  My current work is on canvas; with acrylic, gold leaf powders, oilsticks, pumice, marble dust, and silk tissue.  Ia m constantly in awe of the creative energy that leads me to the next idea.  My way is intuitive; life furnishes the raw material with all its chaotic profusion.  When the viewer connects with my work, I feel a deep sense of completion.”

Nancy Tuttle May’s paintings are in private and corporate collections worldwide.  Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, she is a Wake Forest University graduate.  She has also studied in Perugia, Italy at the University per Straineri in 1979 and the Universite Canadiene en France, Villefranche-sure-mer, France in 1995.  She has studied with Sas Colby in Taos, NM, Done Stone on Monehegan Island, ME and Ed Betts at the University of Illinois.  Her paintings have been in juried shows in North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, and Sun Valley, Idaho.  Helen Frankenthaler, Mark Rothko and Richard Diebenkorn have been major influences.

With a strong community commitment, she serves on the boards of Duke University’s Library, Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art and the Durham Art Guild.  Tuttle May is chair of the Durham Arts Council’s Emerging Artist Program.  She received a Durham women of Achievement Silver Medallion Award and is an associate member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Her teaching experience includes Career Renewal Workshops for the NC Art Educators Asscoiation, Marketing and the Business of Art workshops for Duke Continuing Education, NC Museum of Art, and the Women’s Center of Orange County.  Nancy has been a guest speaker for Duke University’s Women in Leadership series through the Women’s Studies program.