Born in Minnesota. Nolan is a Lecturer of Photography at the University of Central Florida. In 2014 Nolan received his Master of Fine Arts in photography from the University of New Mexico. He received a BS in Art and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (2001). He spent 10 years after undergraduate studies working as an artist, educator, and commercial photographer. During that time he worked on numerous commissioned assignments for national publications, fashion, and advertising clients.

Working in both still and motion, Nolan’s creative practice investigates social spaces and the built landscape. Much of his recent work focuses on commercial interiors in an effort to illustrate how public spaces can provoke desire, nostalgia, and confusion.  He has been the recipient of numerous grants, including the prestigious Howard L. Franks Memorial Fellowship for graduate study.  Nolan’s work is represented in the University of New Mexico Art Museum’s permanent collection, the University of Wisconsin’s Union collection, and the Arizona State University’s Northlight Gallery.