Carole Nelson is a San Francisco Bay Area-based artist whose work in mosaic and sgraffito reflects a lifelong connection to material, pattern, and place. Born in Leopoldville, Congo, she spent her early childhood surrounded by a vibrant culture rich with color, patterned textiles, and local art - an experience that continues to inform her visual language.
Carole earned a BA degree in sculpture from San Jose State University. She spent much of her professional career in Visual Merchandising, creating displays and developed merchandising concepts for major retailers. This work sharpened her sense of composition, scale, and story telling through visual form.
Today, Carole has returned to her sculptural roots, working primarily in ceramic and mosaic. Using clay, glass, and recycled materials, she creates pieces that explore transformation, memory, and layered relationships between surface and structure. Her work has been exhibited in local venues throughout the Bay Area.
Education | Groups | Shows
San Jose State University - BA Art
Marin Open Studios - Member 2015 - 2023
TLCA [Terra Linda Ceramic Artists] - 2025 - 2026
CACM [Ceramic Art Center of Marin] Gallery, San Rafael - 2026
PAC The Shop - 2026
CCACA Conference/TLCA Group Show, Davis - 2026
Small Wonders - Healdsburg Center for the Arts 2026
Illuminations - Falkirk Cultural Center 2026
Driven to Abstraction - Sebastapol Center for the Arts 2025
Made By Hand - Marin Society of Artists 2025
Studio Gallery, San Francisco - Tiny Show 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Petaluma Arts Center - Members Show 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025
MOS Gallery Show - 2015 - 2023
Marelli Pop-Up Gallery, San Rafael - Step Into My Garden 2023, Mosaic 2025
Aqus Summer Show - Petaluma 2023
Art Escape 'Blue' Show - Sonoma CA 2023
Vale Craft Gallery, Chicago - 2022
Pence Gallery, Davis - 2022