Nikkolas Smith is an American contemporary artist, illustrator, and activist.
15 Facts About Nikkolas Smith
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Nikkolas Smith predominantly depicts African-American marginalized voices, as well as social justice in his works.
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Nikkolas Smith was raised in Spring, Texas as the youngest of six children.
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Nikkolas Smith earned a master's degree in architecture from Hampton University in Virginia, where he drew political cartoons for the school's paper.
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Nikkolas Smith describes himself as an "artivist", combining activism within his artistic works.
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Nikkolas Smith's work is influenced by Nina Simone and Norman Rockwell.
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Nikkolas Smith is an author and illustrator of children's picture books.
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Nikkolas Smith illustrated the picture book The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, which was inspired by Nikole Hannah-Jones' The 1619 Project.
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Nikkolas Smith began incorporating activism into his art following the killing of Trayvon Martin.
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Nikkolas Smith has painted portraits of Tamir Rice, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile, Bree Newsome, and Lupita Nyong'o.
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Nikkolas Smith created an 11 by 10-foot digital painting of Chadwick Boseman after Boseman died from colon cancer in August 2020.
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Nikkolas Smith donated his King Chad painting to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where it is on permanent display.
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Art Basel invited Nikkolas Smith to create the logo for its "what Matters" campaign in 2019.
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Nikkolas Smith's digital painting of Atatiana Jefferson was shared on the floor of the US House of Representatives.
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In 2021, Nikkolas Smith created the "First Practicing Vegan" for PETA featuring Cory Booker and other prominent vegans in a reproduction of Rockwell's painting, Freedom from Want.