I'm Michael Nock...
I have always wanted to be a painter. I love the smell of paint, the energy of colour, the honesty of drawing. My dream was to wake each day to a blank canvas.
Fortunately, some sensible advice from my father and grandfather caused me to consider building optionality into my career path. "Keep painting," they argued, "but consider also the need to develop financial independence."
The Foundation: A Dual Education
And so, my journey became one of synthesis. I studied Accounting and Finance at UNSW in Sydney, followed by a BFA and an MFA from CalArts in California. These two worlds, seemingly opposite, became the core of my professional life.
The Connection: Where Art Meets Finance
I am often asked how my love of art squares with my interest in finance and investing. The two seem superficially different, and yet each deeply benefits from an understanding of the other.
A successful artist must think differently, see the unseen, and translate intangibles into something physical. Great art emerges from hard work, a defined process, and the confidence to break rules.
A successful investor must also think outside the box, respond to the unexpected, and read the subtle undertones of an ever-changing world. It requires discipline, abstraction, and intuition.
Success in either field demands dedication, passion, and the confidence to make decisions without fearing failure.
The Result: A Unique Perspective
Some of my most successful investment ideas came to me after graduating from art school. The artistic approach to problem-solving—reducing complexity to a core idea, making intuitive leaps, and drawing disparate associations—became my most powerful tool in the world of finance.
I maintain an interest in finance because it is a creative pursuit. But my passion is, and always has been, art. It is this lifelong passion that fuels the mission of The Nock Art Foundation and The Nock Art Project Space.