Joey Nix painting detailed imagery of car parts and mechanics in gallery space.
 

Creating unique pieces of art, public mural work, and design based in the “industrial” & beyond.

I'm Joe Nix, a Seattle-based artist who was raised in cities surrounding the Puget Sound, proud to be the son and grandson of Boeing and Naval engineers. My artistic inspiration stems from a deep personal connection to the blue collar history of this port city. You can see my appreciation for craftsmanship and materiality in the handmade canvases and quality finish that mirror the vessels housing the mechanical subjects I bring to life.

For me, these machines are far from soulless; they are poignant historical relics and family portraits, serving as an ode to the industrial heart of a port city. They embody a lineage and spirit that I am passionately driven to preserve in an era dominated by microchips and plastic. My compositions stand as some of the last tributes to the blue collar makers of Seattle, carefully piecing together components that society has discarded and forgotten.

My upbringing was amidst the mechanical orchestra in engine rooms, where I witnessed objects incarnate, bringing cold steel and wood vessels to life. It was in Belltown that I discovered my identity as an artist, supported by a community of misfits. I hold a deep resistance to new visions that threaten to replace the foundational structures in my life. I believe that a culture neglecting its past is destined to be the next to fade away.

In my artwork, I paint assemblages of engine parts, symbolizing the delicate and resilient components that have kept this thing running. My dad and grandfather are in there, intertwined with the buildings, neighborhoods, artists, drunks, musicians, and freaks that made Seattle home for me. Change is inevitable, but I question where the wisdom, character, and community responsibility lie in discarding it all. These old engines don't break; they simply need a little love and fine tuning. So, before anyone rushes to reinvent the wheel, I urge you to pause and hold on to what truly matters.