By Noma Faingold

Nail artist Kristen Valdez-Doherty is a maximalist in terms of nail design, which is reflected in the kitschy, crowded décor of her Nails of Modern Art Clement Street studio.

She is surrounded by abstract splashes of bright turquoise, chartreuse, hot pink, shades of purple, along with gold and silver metallic accents. Labubu dolls share shelf space with other whimsical pop culture figurines – from Wednesday Addams to Japanese anime characters.

It is an explosion of eye candy to delight and inspire clients during two-hour sessions.

Her beloved fawn-colored, 2-year-old Frenchie, Kozmo, is heavily immortalized in drawings and watercolors on the walls. Kozmo is also there in the flesh, mostly chilling, but sometimes offering one of his plushie toys or balls to clients, encouraging them to play fetch with him.

The mini fridge is covered with personal snapshots and random stickers, some with such sayings in all caps as, “If you see me & my nails aren’t done, it’s not me” and “Functionality meets freedom.”

There are also the latest tools and supplies, including a vacuum-like tube at her work station, which sucks up the powdery polish residue as it is being removed with an e-file (electric drill).

“I have not been sick since 2019 when I got this machine because it pulls in viruses, as well,” Valdez-Doherty said.

She creates from a circular swivel chair upholstered in glittery iridescent fabric.

“It’s my newest investment,” she said.

Longtime client Julia Everett walked in for an evening appointment. While some clients have specific ideas of what they want and supply Valdez-Doherty, 35, with images from social media in advance, Everett was in a more spontaneous mood. The resulting design turned out to look like a streaky, reflective oil slick one might see on a city street at night.

They have become friends during the last four years. They attend Outside Lands together. In fact, Everett, 39, got married during the annual festival last August, influenced by Valdez-Doherty and her husband renewing their vows at the event in 2024.

“It’s hard not to become friends. We’re here for a couple of hours each time. What do we talk about? Life,” said Everett, a fashion designer for Levi Strauss. “We both like sparkles and have a similar personal aesethic. When I’m designing jeans, I’m not doing it for my personal taste. When I get my nails done, that’s just for me.”

Valdez-Doherty, who was born and raised in Hayward, has lived in the Inner Richmond for 14 years. She has been a nail artist for 11 years and opened her own studio in 2021. She specializes in 3D nail art and intricately detailed, hand-painted flowers. She mixes colors on a palate. Her floral works resemble watercolors.

Valdez-Doherty has built a loyal client base primarily through word of mouth. Her reputation as an imaginative artist has led to her working eight to nine hours a day, five days a week. She takes on very few new clients. She said she has to “vibe with them.”

Nail art has reached new heights in the last decade, according to Valdez-Doherty. Entertainers and celebrities like Cynthia Erivo, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Marc Jacobs, Zendaya and Hailey Bieber have popularized spectacle-level nail designs.

“My goal has always been to have a studio where I can treat my clients as if they are celebrities. Artistic nails are a way to emphasize your individuality,” she said. “There aren’t a lot of us who specialize in super detailed nail art. It’s a rare commodity to find an artist to stick with, who wants to translate their ideas, as well. It is almost always collaborative. It becomes really fun to make it so unique and personal to each client.”

She said she inherited her artistic leanings from her mother.

“I was into art and my mom nourished that, whether it was pottery or painting,” Valdez-Doherty said.

Valdez-Doherty studied graphic design, marketing and branding at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) for a year, before transferring to City College of San Francisco.

She found herself with a lot of time to kill between classes and frequented an inexpensive nail salon on Ocean Avenue. She was dissatisfied with the services she received. She once complained that a nail extension broke off within a few days and was told she had “problem nails.”

The disappointing experience led Valdez-Doherty to search for a more skilled nail artist. She found Mia Rubia at Sparkle SF in the Mission District, who became a mentor.

“I was really inspired by what she was doing and asked her what I had to do to make a living as a nail artist,” she said.

The first step was getting a manicurist license.

“The rest is mostly self-taught on YouTube and Instagram,” said Valdez-Doherty, who got her professional start at Sparkle SF.

Everett discovered Valdez-Doherty through a co-worker, who sported nail designs that Everett admired. At the time, she was told that Valdez-Doherty was not accepting new clients. Everett persisted and got on a waiting list. Eventually, she landed an appointment. Everett was a lifelong nail biter and was embarrassed by her short, damaged nails, the way some people with crooked teeth are afraid to smile.

It turns out fancy gel applications are a cure for unsightly nails. Everett no longer bites her nails. They have grown to an elegant length and are durable.

“I never thought I’d have nails this long,” Everett said. “Getting my nails done every month inspires me creatively. I love coming to see Kristen because her work is so amazing and she uses quality tools and materials. I feel lucky to have found her. My nails are something I’m proud of now. It’s a self-care thing and a form of self-expression. It’s nice to have a design no one else will have.”

Some of the most challenging nail designs Valdez-Doherty executes are pet portraits.

“Those are definitely favorites. They’re really cute,” she said. “I have a lot of clients who are dog lovers.”

In 2025, Valdez-Doherty began working in the more permanent artistic medium of tattooing. She completed her apprenticeship and will be looking for a shop from which to create this year.

She began getting tattoos in 2020, with an emphasis on nature-based imagery. While her previous French Bulldog, Kenzo, was still alive, she had a portrait of him tattooed on her leg, which led her to want to pursue a new art form.

“It’s something so beautiful and meaningful,” she said. “I wanted to offer that to people.”

Nails of Modern Art by Kristen Valdez-Doherty is located at 245A Clement St., Studio #5. Email: nailsofmodernart@gmail.com. Instagram: @sfnoma; Facebook: Kristen T Valdez-Doherty; Threads: sfnoma.