Nancy Pochis Bank is a Chicago based visual artist whose studio is located in the heart of the Ravenswood Industrial Corridor. Nancy’s specialties include watercolor, oil painting and chalk art murals. A recipient of the multi-year Chicago Neighborhood Arts Program Grant, Nancy provides fine art instruction to seniors and high school students. In addition to her work in arts education, Nancy completes several commissioned portraits and murals each year, and her artwork has been exhibited in numerous venues throughout the United States.
Nancy started her professional career in business, earning a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago. In 2000, after twelve years in management consulting, she turned toward her lifelong passion for painting, enrolled in the Continuing Education Program at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and studied with Chicago artist Ed Hinkley.
Nancy is an active arts advocate: she dedicates her time and art skills to benefit her community and raise awareness for a range of social issues through public artworks such as five “Cool Globes”, two Great Chicago Fire Hydrants, Literary Chicago, and the annual Art Therapy Connection’s Chalk Festival. She is a regular participant in the annual Ravenswood ArtWalk for Chicago Artists’ Month. You can read more about Nancy under Press & Media.
“Star-Crossed Sacrifice”
In order to commemorate one of Chicago’s fallen police officers through art, I focused on the memory of Officer Eddie N. Jones Jr. and his lasting presence in the thoughts of those he left behind. I was moved by the star-crossed nature of Officer Jones’ sacrifice and chose to honor him with artwork that suggests Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night, swirling dream-like over our Chicago skyline. On the saddle, I hand-lettered words taken from the mission and values of the Chicago Police Department. They describe the ideals for which Officer Jones made the ultimate sacrifice. Thanks to my summer intern, Grace Brandt, who helped with the initial concept.