A Tribute to Donna Nicholas

Friday, June 13th
6 – 9 pm

Donna Nicholas, who passed away in August 2024, was a local artist and former Erie Art Museum board member who had a major impact on the Erie community. Donna grew up in California and was surrounded by art and creativity from an early age. Her father, George Nicholas, was a painter and sculptor who also worked as an animator for Walt Disney, Chuck Jones, and Hanna Barbera studios. Donna’s mother was an artist who created original textiles on a loom in their home. Donna chose clay as her medium of choice.

Nicholas studied in Kyoto, Japan, and was inspired by the Asian aesthetic and Shinto themes, which would find their way into her art. In 1969, now armed with an MFA in ceramics from Claremont Graduate University, Donna became a teacher in the ceramics department at Edinboro University. She was a gifted instructor but still continued to produce her impressive work. Nicholas had no biological children, although countless students report, “she was like my second mother” due to the personal investment she made in them.

As a board member at the Erie Art Museum, Donna was the f irst to champion an expansion of the Museum. She saw the vision for a larger facility and encouraged many friends to help make that dream a reality. Our second-floor gallery space is named the Donna Nicholas Gallery in her honor. Please join us on Friday, June 13th, from 6 - 9 pm as we pay tribute to Donna Nicholas. Our celebration will include a display featuring photographs of Donna, personal tributes, and her artwork.