Mike Nicholls was born in 1960 and grew up on a farm in Narre Warren North. From 1980 – 1983 he studied Fine Arts at Caulfield Institute of Technology majoring in sculpture. In the early 80ts he joined artist collective ‘ROAR Studios’ and regularly exhibited in group exhibitions. He became a founding member of ‘ROAR’ and his early work reflects the influence and ideas of the expressionist and figurative art movements which inspired the group.

In the 80’s and 90’s ‘The Melbourne Artists’ as the group became known flourished in an ever - expanding Australian art scene with Mike regularly holding solo exhibition’s at Michael Wardell Gallery in Melbourne and Coventry Gallery in Sydney. Group exhibitions included A New Generation, The Philip Morris Arts Grant Purchases 1983-88, The Baillieu Myer Collection of the 80’s and the Moet & Chandon Touring Exhibition.

Over the following two decades Melbourne’s creative landscape went through a major transformation with new cafes, restaurants and galleries opening. Mike’s work was influenced by the explosion in the cultural scene happening around him with his artworks being pared back to essential elements, focusing on his goal of imbuing his work with expression, soul and a reflection of the human spirit. 

Mike has sought to incorporate an Australianness within his art, informed by his travels throughout Australia and overseas. As a young artist Mike spent time on remote cattle stations in central Queensland and has been on numerous plein air trips throughout Australia, Spain and to South Georgia Island in the Antarctic. He has been a frequent visitor to the Cape York Peninsula where he has held woodcarving workshops in remote Indigenous communities in Lockhart River, Aurukun and Moa Island in the Torres Strait.

Mike has regularly exhibited in private and public galleries in Melbourne and Sydney and has had forty - one solo exhibitions and has been represented by Michael Wardell Gallery 1987-1994, Coventry Gallery 1988 – 1999, The George Gallery 1996 -1998, Nellie Castan Gallery 2000 - 2001, Australian Art Resources 2004-2007 and & Gallery Australia 2020 - 2022.

Mike has had four curated retrospective solo exhibitions in public galleries at Maroondah Art Gallery curated by Damien Smith 2007, South Gippsland Art Gallery 2009 curated by Simon Gregg, McClelland Art Gallery and Sculpture Park 2011 and Bunjil Gallery 2021 curated by Penny Teale.

He has participated in over ninety group exhibitions in public and private galleries, including at the National Gallery of Australia (ACT) National Gallery of Victoria (VIC) Crescent Gallery (USA) Heide, Museum of Modern Art, (VIC) Art Gallery of New South Wales (NSW), Mornington Peninsula Art Gallery (VIC) Launceston Art Gallery, (TAS) Geelong Art Gallery, Shepparton, Bendigo, Mildura and Latrobe Regional Galleries, (VIC), Campbelltown and New England Regional Galleries (NSW), Wagga Wagga City Art Gallery NSW, Benalla Art Gallery, VIC and Gold Coast City Art Gallery, QLD.

Mike has won the Montalto Sculpture Prize 2018 the Moonee Valley Art Prize 2006 Wyndham Art Prize 1998 and the Williamstown Art Prize 1994. His work has been selected for exhibitions in Victoria at the Montalto Sculpture Prize 2018, 2016, 2015, 2012 and 2010, Lorne Sculpture Prize 2016, Yarra Station Sculpture Prize 2015 and the Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award 2004. In New South Wales he has been selected for the Blake Prize 2013, Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2010, Sculpture by the Sea 2002, Wynn Prize 1997, Salon De Refuses 1995 and nationally with the Moet & Chandon Touring Exhibition 1996, VIC, NSW, QLD, SA and internationally at the lnami International Wooden Sculpture Exhibition 2011, JAPAN.