Nic Nathanson is a painter exploring the physical and psychological dimensions of toxicity. He exclusively paints with biohazardous materials such as herbicides, viruses, and radioactive dust. In doing so, he aims to disrupt passive consumption and celebrate the beauty of risk.

Born in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Nathanson was strongly influenced by his childhood environment, a landscape and community defined by nuclear research and development. His father’s career in radioactive waste management sparked an early curiosity in scientific progress and its consequences. He followed his interest in these areas by training in the field of ergonomics and found work advising companies on how to accommodate audience needs. Over time, he became increasingly drawn to the potential of visual art to guide society and embraced painting as his life’s primary focus.

Since turning to painting, Nathanson has become known for creating artworks that don’t just depict danger but actively create it. His work must be exhibited under strict safety protocols that often require viewers to don emergency-grade personal protective equipment. However, the challenges of displaying and maintaining his work haven’t stopped collectors and institutions from acquiring it. His work appeals to those who see painting as more than decoration and appreciate art as an unpredictable and dynamic force capable of fundamentally reshaping our world.

Nathanson lives and works in New York.