Nikki Baxendale is an award-winning Canadian artist and photographer, based in Vancouver, with professional career spanning over three decades. Her artistic journey is characterized by a profound commitment to environmental studies, which has led her to craft a portfolio that unveils the concealed beauty of locations and landscapes imperiled by the forces of climate change and human intervention.

Nikki's work is an invitation to explore places and perspectives that might remain beyond the reach of many, with the hope of instilling in the viewer a sense of urgency and inspiration to safeguard these threatened realms for future generations.

Her latest collection showcases her expedition to spend an intimate week with over 80 grizzlies in Northern B.C. Here , by night  she slept in a tent while Grizzlies roamed below and by day in the water up close and personal she immersed herself into their world in order to bring back a deep appreciation for their lifestyle reflected in her photography and sculptural art presented in the Culture Crawl exhibition.

Another important collection for Nikki was  'Into the Ice,' emerging from an extraordinary expedition to the high Arctic, specifically 'Svalbard,' situated at an astonishing 81 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. In this immersive experience, Nikki, alongside five other accomplished photographers, ventured through the Arctic waters and shorelines, encountering both the mesmerizing wildlife and the frozen masterpieces of nature. The result is a collection of stories and images that resonate with the soul.

 Nikki is a versatile artist, proficient in both photography and sculptural painting, her creative process invariably commences with photography and thorough research into how light interplays with the subject's surface. Her artistic passion is deeply rooted in the exploration of water and the transfer of energy, a fascination nurtured from an early age, as she spent countless hours in her father's chemistry laboratory, peering through electron microscopes, which bestowed upon her a unique perspective. This appreciation for the intricate geometric forms and metamorphosis of subjects when exposed to light refraction, uncovered the hidden geometric and obscured lines that she fell in love with and seeks in her practice.

Her work on the canvas has often been described as painting sculptures, employing dramatic, multi-layer mediums to transform her creations into dynamic 3-dimensional pieces that seemingly leap out of the canvas.

 Nikki at the core is a storyteller, her ability to weave captivating narratives into her art draws from her career as a creative director in London, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and her beloved Vancouver. She hopes these moments create a pause to reflect and see the natural wonders in this ever fast paced world.

 Glacier"

“Before me, a colossal masterpiece unfolds, its colors, a vibrant symphony of nature's own. I've mixed these hues countless times on my palette, but to witness their splendor leaves me utterly awestruck and profoundly inspired. Standing in the presence of this majestic giant, I feel an immense privilege as I conclude this Arctic odyssey, knowing that I've had the honor of encountering you in all your grandeur, perhaps before you vanish from our sight. Just last year, this very corridor we sail through was impassable, with more of you filling this large expanse."