Nikolai Moderbacher is a Musician and Builder/Sculptor. Born in San Francisco, CA, raised in Graz, Austria, and now living and teaching in Brooklyn, NY, Nikolai’s work has no real boundaries when it comes to age and fusing music and art.

Nikolai received his BA in American Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz in 1998 and later completed his MFA in Wood/Furniture from the California College of the Arts (CCA) in 2006.

Nikolai’s artwork has appeared at The Future Perfect, a platform for collectable contemporary design. In 2012 he was selected to contribute to the design show 12×12; Furniture from Upcycled NYC Wood. His chairs have been featured in the books 500 Chairs (2008) and 1000 Chairs (2013). In 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner and composer Henry Threadgill commissioned Mr. Moderbacher to create several sculptures for his performance Plain as plain, in plain sight at Tilton Gallery as well as Luhring Augustine Gallery. Moderbacher’s last exhibit “Petrified” occurred in 2021 featuring many new works developed during the pandemic.

In his day to day Nikolai runs Music Together classes at his own early childhood music school called Nikoskids Inc. in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and has a band called NikosKids. With Nikoskids, Nikolai is able to offer a rare combination of the classroom, playroom and living room together in one. He recently released a new YouTube puppetry series entitled Niko & Gigi delving into and expanding the playfield of his original music.

With NikosKids (or Niko & Gigi), Nikolai is grateful to have a platform where he can encourage young children and families alike to remain creative. Mr. Moderbacher lives in Brooklyn with his wife and has a blossoming artist daughter in college.