About Us
Art De Triumph & Artful Framer Studios
Art De Triumph
Art De Triumph was established in 2000, to produce a new generation of collectible archival Giclée Prints and collectible Fine Art Cards of paintings by well-known Chicago artist Nancie King Mertz.
The core values of Art de Triumph are based on the following Founding Principles:
- Our Customers: To provide our customers with uncompromising customer satisfaction in all aspects of our relationship, including respecting your right to privacy.
- Quality: To continue to improve the materials and technologies used to produce our Giclée Prints and Fine Art Cards.
- Our Artists: To respect the spirit and letter of the laws regarding all artist’s rights, including copyrights, of the artists we represent.
Artful Framer Studios
Nancie King Mertz has owned Artful Framer Studios, a custom framing firm since 1979. Artful Framer Studios was named “Small Business of the Year 2000” by Chicago’s Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce. Nancie has served on several boards, and is a strong supporter of philanthropic organizations in Chicago. In 1999, she was awarded the “Entrepreneurial Achievement Award” by the Network of Women Entrepreneurs and was President in 2000.
You may visit Art De Triumph & Artful Framer Studios online anytime, or at our Gallery/Store during business hours. Art De Triumph & Artful Framer Studios is located at 2936 N Clark in Chicago’s Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood.
Nancie King Mertz
Nancie King Mertz is owner of Artful Framer Studios (est. 1979), is the featured artist of the Gallery/Store, and constructs all customer frames and her own. Usually you can find her painting at the shop or working with framing clients, joining frames, cutting mats & glass, but often Nancie’s extended work days are spent at her studio-just-around-the-corner creating new paintings.
“ Shadow, shape, color and composition govern my view of the world, providing a discovery of beauty in the commonplace. Fortunately, my work enables me to travel and explore the world, plein air, with brush and paint. It is my hope that the viewer can witness the beauty or story I strive to convey in each image and delight in its creation.”
Nancie has a Master’s degree in painting and taught 3 years on the college level. She began the framing business while a student and was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 1999, “Small Business of the Year 2000”, and “Artist of the Year 2005-2006 & 2006-2007” by the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau.
- BFA Painting, U of IL-Urbana
- MA Painting, EIU-Charleston, Instructor of Art, 3 years
- Private study with American Masters: Schmid, Shapiro, Silverman, Gerhartz, Daily, Burdick, Aspevig, Auster
Over twenty five one-person shows in Chicago from 1988-2007 as a result of painting trips to the following: Hong Kong & Singapore, American Southwest, France, England, Scotland, Greece, Italy, Amsterdam, American South, Wales, Ireland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, Mexico, the Bahamas, New England, American Southwest and the neighborhoods of Chicago.
Gallery representation: ArtDeTriumph, Chicago; Joseph Layton in Galena; Gallery Wright in Wilmington VT; Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago (annual one-person show each November); Art Consulting firms: SoHo Myriad, Atlanta, GA; Corporate Artworks, Schaumburg, IL. Formerly with: Gwenda Jay Gallery, Chicago, Palette & Chisel Gallery, Galena, IL (closed 2005); Ottinger Gallery, Chicago (closed June 2002), numerous gallery group exhibitions across the US.
Published work: book articles, magazines, program covers, posters, calendars and notecards, and hundreds of limited edition and open edition prints. Numerous national and international awards for painting.
Production: approximately 100+ original oils, pastels & watercolors annually. Signature member of the Chicago Pastel Painters, member of Chicago Plein Air Painters, invitational participant in the Door County Plein Air event in July, member Palette & Chisel Academy.
Collections: worldwide, including such noteworthy collectors as American Airlines, BP Amoco, Cosmopolitan Bank & Trust, Motorola, Lee Flaherty & Flair Communications, Juanita & Michael Jordan, Maria Pappas, Fritz Duda Co, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, American Bar Assoc., American Library Assoc., RSNA, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Boeing, Edwards Hospital Collection in Naperville, Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, Chicago Dental Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, National Restaurant Assoc., Globalcomm, KBIS, National School Board Assoc., Prentice Womens’ Hospital.
Ron Mertz
Ron Mertz is the owner of Art De Triumph (est. 2000) and the publisher of all of the prints and cards we sell. He photographs Nancie King Mertz’s originals with a very high-resolution digital camera, photo-edits the file until it matches the original, and then stores the file until the original is sold. Our policy is to release Giclée prints only after the sale of the original, although the 5” × 7” Fine Art Cards are available as soon as the painting is finished. Ron has a consulting background and a Masters in Accounting and works constantly on the computer.
Marcy O’Boyle
When you enter our shop, you’ll most likely be greeted by the charming store manager, Marcy O’Boyle. She has a wonderful design/color sense to help clients select the very best choice for matting & framing of their photos, posters, fine art or memorabilia. Marcy has a background in graphic arts and is a stickler for detail and efficiency! She’s the one in charge of finishing the frames to perfection and keeping our operation organized.