Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Nicole Acosta is a first generation Mexican American artist whose work primarily addresses identity, experience, place, culture, and storytelling. Acosta holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Management from Alverno College in Milwaukee. Prior to her transfer to Alverno College, she studied photography at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and Milwaukee Area Technical College. Her work is included in the collections of the Milwaukee Women’s Art Library, the Charles Allis Museum, The Pfister Hotel, private collections, and the Racine Art Museum.

Acosta’s nationally recognized HOOPS Project—which shares the photos and stories of people of the global majority who have deep connection to hoop earrings—is her current focus. In 2023, Acosta became the 14th Artist in Residence at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, held a solo HOOPS exhibition at the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) Art + Culture Hub gallery, and launched the world premiere of the HOOPS stage play. Written by Eliana Pipes, the play is based on the stories told by those photographed for the HOOPS Project.