Nancy Coumoundouros

About

Artist Bio — Nancy CoumoundourosNancy Coumoundouros is an oil painter based in Waterford, Michigan, known for her realistic portraits that blend careful observation with a quiet emotional pull. Her work captures fleeting expressions, subtle gestures, and the unique presence each subject brings into the room. With a style that feels both intimate and clear-eyed, she approaches portraiture as a conversation between artist, sitter, and story.Nancy earned her degree from the University of Michigan, where she majored in English and minored in Art — a combination that shaped her deep appreciation for narrative, character, and the nuance of human expression. This sensitivity to story threads through her paintings, giving them a sense of lived experience rather than simple likeness.Before retiring to pursue her studio practice full-time, Nancy spent decades shaping the arts landscape in Southeast Michigan. She served as the Director of Fine Arts for the cities of Farmington and Farmington Hills, where she strengthened arts programming, championed public art, and expanded community access to creative experiences.Before that she founded the Waterford Cultural Council, where her vision brought arts engagement to a new level. Among her most notable achievements was arranging for a Picasso artwork, on loan from the Detroit Institute of Arts, to be displayed locally — an extraordinary opportunity for students, arts groups, and the wider public.Nancy also helped bring the Art Train to Waterford, a traveling arts exhibition that went on to receive a national Library Science Award. She traveled to the White House, where she and the Art Train team were honored by First Lady Laura Bush for their contributions to arts education and cultural outreach.Now retired from arts administration, Nancy paints in her Waterford studio, returning to the practice that has always grounded her. Her portraits reflect a lifetime of curiosity, empathy, and commitment to the belief that art — whether hanging in a gallery, rolling into town on a train, or displayed in a classroom — can change how we see each other.