Nicole Mendez, M.F.A.

Nicole Mendez is a California-based visual artist and filmmaker. Born in Key West, Florida and moving many times throughout her youth, her childhood love of observing people and places evolved into a desire to communicate stories of deep human emotion. Over the years she has been inspired by fashion print ads and independent arthouse cinema; this inspiration can often be found in the bright colors and patterns and in the techniques used throughout her work.

After completing her undergraduate education at a small liberal arts college in Oregon (Marylhurst University), Mendez went on to share her visual art in exhibitions for over a decade. In 2017, she began pursuing an MFA in painting but gravitated toward something new: film. Her love for color theory, stemming from time spent studying under a student of Josef Albers, sparked an interest in color grading and camera sensor technology. In 2019 she sought out and earned a Certificate in Color Science and later received DaVinci Resolve Color certification. She completed her MFA in 2022 and is continuing her studies in literature, writing, and education at California State University San Marcos where she  serves as the Academic Coordinator for the Literature & Writing and Film Studies departments.

Mendez's paintings have been shown and sold internationally including four solo exhibitions. Her films have won awards and screened at galleries/museums and in numerous film festivals on five continents. She continues to balance school, work, film jurying, and multiple projects while spending as much time as possible with her three children. She is currently working on two short films and plans to begin filming her first feature-length documentary during the summer of 2026.