Pamela Nelson facts for kids

Pamela Nelson is an American artist known for her paintings, mixed media artworks (which means she uses different materials), and large art pieces in public places. Her art often features cool geometric patterns, like shapes and lines.

About Pamela Nelson

Early Life and Career

Pamela Nelson grew up in Midland, Texas. She later went to college at Southern Methodist University. Before becoming a full-time artist, Nelson worked as a teacher at a community college. While teaching, she helped start an art program called the Stewpot Open Art Program. This program offered art classes and support for people experiencing homelessness.

In 2005, Pamela Nelson was chosen to be the vice chair of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. This is a special group that advises the government on art and design. She served in this important role for more than ten years.

Public Artworks

You can see Pamela Nelson's art in many public places. For example, she created decorative artworks for Dallas Area Rapid Transit stations, which are train stations in Dallas. She also designed special patterns for the floors at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. These are called terrazzo floor medallions. Another famous piece is her Color Equations installation at NorthPark Center, which is an art piece about how colors work together.

Art Exhibitions

Pamela Nelson's art has been shown in over 100 art galleries and museums across the country! Some of these include the Dallas Museum of Art, the Austin Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C. Her work has also been displayed at the National Arts Club in New York City.

Today, her art is shown and sold by the Craighead Green Gallery in Dallas, Texas.

Awards and Recognition

Pamela Nelson has received several awards for her amazing work. In 2000, she was part of a project to improve the streets in downtown Dallas. For this, she won the City of Dallas Urban Design Award. In the same year, she also received the Legend Award from the Dallas Visual Art Center, which recognized her as a very important artist.

Personal Connections

Pamela Nelson was married to William Nelson, who passed away in 2014. They had two sons together.

Nelson is also a childhood friend of Laura Bush, who was the U.S. First Lady. Pamela Nelson created a painting called To Everything Turn which is now displayed at the Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. It was Pamela Nelson who encouraged George W. Bush to start painting as a hobby. Laura Bush had shown Nelson some of her husband's simple drawings, and Nelson suggested he try painting more seriously!