Nelson Guda, PhD

Nelson Guda is an artist, speaker and creator. Nelson trained in both the fine arts and sciences. He opened an independent art studio after earning a PhD in biology and helping establish an interdisciplinary institute at the University of Texas, Austin. Nelson's works can incorporate photography, video installations, audio, written word and sculptural elements. He studied art in the US and Japan, and after a decade of working in the sciences, he moved back to art full time with a large photography project called ROADLESS that culminated in an exhibit in the US Senate Building in Washington, DC and numerous smaller shows around the country. After a 2010 visiting artist position, Nelson’s video work was highlighted at the Holter Art Museum of Montana.

Nelson frequently works on large projects that combine his personal experience with a quasi-journalistic exploration of important issues in the world. His concept that “life is a canvas for art” reflects his goal of using actions in life as a form of creating art. Nelson’s most recent large project, ENEMIES, is a highly personal look at the way people around the world recover from conflict born tragedy. Nelson lives in Austin, TX, and works internationally and across the US.