My name is Nick Walters, and I am a contemporary painter based in Lexington, Kentucky. My work focuses on storytelling through portraiture.

When I first dreamed up the Heirlooms Project, I knew it was bigger than me. The idea was simple but powerful — to create a portrait exhibition honoring Kentuckians who passed away too soon. Each painting will be a hand-painted tribute, inspired by photos shared by loved ones. At the end of the exhibition, each portrait will return home — gifted to the families who shared their memories.

This exhibition was inspired by my own experiences. At 20, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma. Though treatment saved my life, it led to a difficult struggle with addiction to pain medication, and later, alcohol. Painting became a lifeline after I quit drinking, a way to channel my energy and focus.

With the support of family, friends, and doctors, I survived. Now, I want to give that sense of healing and connection to others. Heirlooms is my way of offering comfort and remembrance through art — to honor those gone too soon, and to create something meaningful in a world that can feel heavy with loss.

I applied for a grant through LexArts, and I was incredibly grateful to receive partial funding. Unfortunately, because of recent cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts, I only received about half of what I requested.

Going into this project, I knew I’d be donating many hours of my own time. But as a working artist, I also need to find a way to offset some of the time and income I’ll be giving up — time that would normally go toward commissions, art fairs, and gallery work.

That’s why I’m asking for your support. Every donation, no matter how small, will help me keep going — to buy paint, canvases, and frames, to cover some of the time it takes to paint, and most importantly, to bring these portraits, and the stories behind them, to life.

Together, we can create an exhibition that honors love, loss, and the strength it takes to keep going. I’d be so grateful for your support — whether that’s through a donation, sharing this page, or simply helping spread the word. Every bit of encouragement helps.

The exhibition is scheduled to open in May 2026 at the LexArts gallery. If you’re in the area, I’d be honored for you to stop by, see the work in person, and be part of this celebration of remembrance and community.

Thank you for helping me make Heirlooms a reality.

To learn more about my work and follow updates on the Heirlooms exhibition, visit www.nickwaltersart.com