Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Trofimuk.
Hi Nicholas, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
A native son of New Jersey, Nicholas Trofimuk fell in love with the beauty of the rolling hills, forests and countryside at a very young age. He would sketch and paint all his life but after seeing a photographic exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, his love of photography was born. He was captivated by the ability to capture a moment in time and make beauty come to life. His precision and perfection come from his background as an oral surgeon.
In 1987, he left the east coast for the Land of Enchantment where he was inspired by the rugged and wild landscapes of New Mexico. His work focused primarily on black and white and perfecting the art of toning. He is known as a Master Printer, working in large format camera printing his own work with perfect precision. In 2012, he also expanded his world into archival pigment prints. While they are color, he is adamant about reproducing them true to what you see. There is little or no enhancement and he does not possess Adobe Photoshop. His color work is as true to his mission as his traditional black and white.
He was represented by Photogenesis Gallery in La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico for over 35 years. He became one of the most widely collected modern photographers in the Southwest. His work resides in thousands of collections around the world from the first-time art buyer to some of the most prestigious collections including, among others, the collections of Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Robert Duval.
Simply put, he is known for capturing beauty – whether it be in a sensual unfolding of a flower, the rugged and expansive landscape of New Mexico or the cityscapes of London, Paris, Chicago and New York. His versatility is unlimited. As long as a subject conveys beauty, he will use his talents to capture it, to create something where the viewer feels as though they have been transported physically, emotionally or spiritually.
In 2024, after the end of an era in New Mexico with the loss of his beloved wife and partner in business and life, he moved to the Monterey Peninsula to be near his daughter. He was immediately captivated by the natural beauty of the flowers, succulents and seascapes indigenous to the area. As someone who must always be moving and creating, they quickly became his focus and Carmel Vibes Gallery was born.
While still a Master Printer, he changed his focus from the traditional matted and framed pieces to accommodate the changing photographic landscape. Although he still prints, mats and frames his work, he also offers the modern option of high-definition luxury prints on ChromaLuxe panels that bring a new dimension to his images. Viewers are overwhelmed by the feeling that they can touch a flower petal, walk down a path or feel the sand beneath their feet.
He has termed his photographs as “Vibographs” which encapsulate everything that is special about Nicholas’ approach to art.
vibograph
\vi·bo·graph\ noun: 1: an image that evokes emotion and speaks to the viewer’s soul 2: an image that captures beauty and creates joy or happiness
His advice is “take your time, enjoy the search and immerse yourself in the beauty. If your heart leads you there, select something that speaks to your soul”.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The loss of Nicholas’ wife and business partner of 59 years was a huge struggle. They had done everything together – she had managed his practice as an oral surgeon and when they moved to New Mexico, she was the director of the gallery where his work thrived. After losing her, the gallery doors closed because while his work was the focus of the gallery, she was the heart behind it. After struggling to decide what to do and many trips back and forth from New Mexico to Pebble Beach, he made the decision to move his life to be with his daughter. One of the most challenging aspects was that his wife Joette loved the Central Coast and wanted to move here but never had the chance. Being there created almost a guilty pleasure because she did not get the chance to enjoy the experience of living on the Central Coast. He did take inspiration from all the things she loved and started to create again.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Nicholas is known for capturing beauty and his versatility. While he started out with primarily black and white, building his own darkroom and using a large format camera, even now his focus is on beauty – something that moves the viewer. He became one of the most widely collected modern photographers in the Southwest. His work resides in thousands of collections around the world from the first-time art buyer to some of the most prestigious collections including, among others, the collections of Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Robert Duval. Simply put, he is known for capturing beauty – whether it be in a sensual unfolding of a flower, the rugged and expansive landscape of New Mexico or the cityscapes of London, Paris, Chicago and New York. His versatility is unlimited. As long as a subject conveys beauty, he will use his talents to capture it, to create something where the viewer feels as though they have been transported physically, emotionally or spiritually.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Good luck and blessings have been everything. While Nicholas possesses all the talent, he has a partner in his wife who encouraged him to take his art to the next level. Meeting her was the luck that made it all happen. They met while both teaching in New Jersey. They met in November, were engaged in February and married by July and spent 59 amazing years together. They were best friends and traveled the world together. After decades as an oral surgeon in New Jersey and a part time artist, it was his wife who encouraged them to go west and give something else a try. When they didn’t know how to get into galleries, they found a small space for lease (again luck) and said we’ll open our own gallery. That gallery was one of the most successful galleries in the Soutwest for over 35 years. The luck was in that first touching of elbows in the bleachers as teachers and it remained for the entire lives. Nicholas’ daughter and he have a motto “Lucky you, lucky me, lucky us”. She texts that to him every single night.
Pricing:
- $150 -1500 depending on format and size
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carmelvibesgallery.com
- Instagram: @carmelvibesgallery
