September 10, 2008 (RALEIGH, NC) – Nichole Ohrablo, an artist based in New York City with Raleigh connections, will be the featured artist at Salon Moxie in North Raleigh from September 26 through November 13. The artist’s reception will be held Friday, September 26, from 6-9 p.m. in the salon.

Ohrablo work is bright, vibrant and evocative of New York graffiti. But she began her career under the tutelage of well-known Raleigh artist and art teacher Bob Rankin. Her family had moved to Raleigh from Long Island when Ohrablo was 10.

“I really learned a lot from [Rankin],” she said. “His work was always full of color and expression, which was very inspiring.”

At 19, Ohrablo moved back to New York to study art at The Fashion Institute of Technology, where she began what would be an ongoing fascination with everything about the gritty side of the city, especially the graffiti.

“It’s so incredibly detailed and colorful with real visual depth,” she said. “Good graffiti pieces also have this raw emotion and urban attitude. It’s 100 percent NYC, which is why I love it.”

Music, pop culture, and “my old clubbing days in the city” also inspire the work of the artist who considered herself “very much a misfit [in Raleigh]. I loved heavy metal bands, wore ripped jeans with big, Long Island hair, and I had a thick New York accent.”

Today Ohrablo lives on Long Island again with her husband Joe and their cat Vic. But they visit Raleigh frequently because her parents and her sister – Michelle Scaraglino, a stylist at Salon Moxie – are here.

Salon Moxie is owned and operated by Jack and Joelle Ray who also own the award-winning Samuel Cole Salon in North Raleigh. Salon Moxie has been hosting revolving art exhibits since it opened last summer.

“We wanted to find a way to connect our emerging artists at Moxie with other emerging artists in the area,” Joelle said. “We are excited to offer our support to the arts community.”

Salon Moxie is located at 6191-122 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh. For more information, visit http://www.salon-moxie.com or call 919-850-0721.

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