Meet the Artists

Nel, Painter

Nel is a New Orleans based painter and mixed media artist with a deep love for color, texture, and the human form. After studying Studio Art and Neuroscience at Tulane University, Nel began exploring how the mind and body connect, blending these academic interests with a passion for abstraction. With a focus on the human figure, their work transforms the familiar and vulnerable into pieces that feel inviting, personal, and emotionally rich.

While painting remains the foundation of Nel’s practice, their growing interest in mixed media led them to their collaboration with Maya Leyden, specifically the use of underglaze on porcelain clay bodies. This new medium has sparked an interest in the rich history of American Traditional and Japanese styles of tattooing, creating the foundation of what is now Brush & Bone.

Through each piece, Nel invites viewers into a world where historically bold imagery finds its soft side on these delicate, handcrafted forms.