Nikki Travaglino

Nikki Travaglino is a hyper-realistic painter known for capturing the beauty of natural and automotive reflections. A Connecticut shoreline native and daughter of a mechanic, she draws inspiration from coastal landscapes and classic cars. Growing up among marshes, coves, and bays, she developed a fascination with light, water, and seasonal color, often revisiting the same locations to observe subtle changes.

Her artistic path began early, balancing childhood art classes with time spent at her father’s service station, where his restoration of vintage cars sparked her love of chrome and design. Today, those influences define her work.

Nikki co-founded CT Shoreline Cars & Coffee with her husband, Jerry, blending her passions for art and automobiles. She studied at the Paier Collage of Art under Rudolph F. Zallinger, renowned for The Age of Reptiles mural at Yale’s Peabody Museum, and with the late Judith Milgram, a former intern of Norman Rockwell.

See more of Nikki's work on Instagram @chromeandcoastlines