In 1989, Nancy had her first one-woman exhibition at Artemisia. It was a series of unflinching, humorous and poignant self-portraits – most of them in charcoal. Here Nancy poses with some of her works at the show.

"Contemplating Nature" by Nancy Hild Charcoal on paper 33 x 41 in.

"I Can’t Believe It! I Forgot to Have Children" by Nancy Hild Charcoal on paper 41.5 x 29.5 in. Prominent collection: DuPaul University Museum, Chicago, Illinois

This self-portrait, appeared on the September 26, 1990 cover of the international publication, Journal of the American Medical Association. For decades, JAMA has featured single works from significant artists on their covers with accompanying analysis by a physician. Nancy maintained that JAMA never requested permission to reproduce her painting nor was she ever compensated. "Let’s Quit Smoking" Acrylic on Canvas

In the 1990s, Nancy became an international traveler. By 1999, she had visited countries such as Turkey, France, Italy, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, and Colombia. Here she is at the Venice Biennale admiring some of the sights.

Taking a break.

Trash bags converted to waders in order to navigate the seasonally flooded streets of Venice.

Surreptitiously checking the hotel register in Venice. Nancy also enjoyed taking photographs of “other people’s vacations.”

In 1999, Nancy was part of the “Cows on Parade” exhibition in Chicago. The exhibition was featured in the likes of People magazine, was the subject of a popular book, and inspired many other exhibitions of its ilk throughout the U.S. Nancy’s cow was titled “Be-bop a Re-bop” but Nancy called her Lois. The sculpture was placed in front of a downtown shoe store, Hanig Footwear – something Nancy loved – on the corner of Monroe and Clark. Peter Hanig was Nancy’s sponsor for the Cows on Parade.

In early September 1999, Lois was “kidnapped.” The cow itself weighed approximately 600 pounds, and the police speculated that it would have taken a forklift and three people to remove it. The theft made national news, and Nancy was interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning where she made an appeal for the return of her kidnapped cow.

A reward was offered “for information leading to the return of our cow in good condition” by Mr. Hanig. Nancy had a theory about the identity of the thief but nothing came of it. Lois has never been found.