Every Second Saturday, we spotlight a new artist transforming our blue feature wall into something bold, fresh, and conversation-starting.

For August’s exhibit, we invite you to step into a world of glossy nostalgia and plastic perfection with the campy, color-saturated photography of Nicole Houff.

About the Artist: Nicole Houff Nicole Houff is a Minneapolis-based photographer with a flair for fantasy, humor, and hyper-staged reality. Her work unfolds in a glossy plastic world inhabited by a certain iconic doll—her eternally poised muse. Drawing from the ultra-stylized pop culture of the 1950s and '60s, Nicole’s photographs toe the line between satire and reverence, nostalgia and commentary.

“My love for the ‘even less accurate than Barbie’ realities that 50’s and 60’s entertainment portrays complements my stoic muse and sense of humor.”

Her photographs are vibrant, meticulously composed, and rich in vintage design references—featuring Barbie in surreal, cinematic scenes that feel both timeless and eerily familiar.

What to Expect: Bold, colorful photography infused with retro flair // Barbie, but make it art—and add a wink // Meet Nicole in person during Second Saturday Open Studios

Saturday, August 9 | 11AM–4PM
On view through August 31