Through striking brush strokes in his digital paintings, Nikkolas Smith sketches emotions and feelings that often cannot be put into words. Based in Los Angeles, he is a concept artist and artivist– combining art and activism–who inspires meaningful change and raises awareness about social issues through his work.
Smith’s artwork is an expression of his personal experience, as well as the country’s collective experience, its memory and history, especially as it has continued to unfold in the past weeks. He created a powerful portrait of George Floyd, commissioned by Black Lives Matter for a billboard, that has been widely-shared and included on protesters’ signs across the country. Smith has explained that in this piece, Floyd looks directly at the viewer with concern in his eyes, “I feel like he’s questioning what is going on. Why did this happen to me? I want my art to show the world that this was a human being who should still be living on this Earth.”
His moving portraits of victims of police violence have commemorated the lives of Ahmaud Arbery wearing a tuxedo, Breonna Taylor in her EMT uniform, Elijah McClain playing the violin, Tamir Rice and Michael Brown in graduation robes, Dominique Fells, Tony McDade, Riah Milton, and Atatiana Jefferson playing video games with her nephew. Smith painted a vibrant portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. in a hoodie, after the wrongful murder of Trayvon Martin, connected to King’s ideal of not being judged by your outward appearance. The image went viral, and this was the moment he first realized how art can be a force for positive change.
He has created art for the Jewish community after the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, a portrait of a Syrian child in Aleppo, NFL players kneeling against police brutality, healthcare workers on the frontlines, and most recently, a tribute to Dreamers celebrating after the Supreme Court’s DACA ruling.
In his work, he engages with the current times in a way that shifts our perceptions and sparks important conversations. His art binds people together in moments of joy and tragedy; it allows him to uplift individuals and communities, to help them to grieve in the face of injustices.
Over the course of five years up to this day, Smith sets aside 30 min to 3 hours to sketch what he’s feeling every Sunday– these are his Sunday Sketches that are compiled in his latest book. His illustrations are often rendered in Photoshop in a speed painting process and resemble traditional oil paintings. He has also written and illustrated The Golden Girls of Rio, about the Olympic women’s gymnastics team, as well as My Hair is Poofy And That’s Okay, and has illustrated World Cup Women. He teaches kids digital and traditional painting, and has created official movie posters, for Black Panther, If Beale Street Could Talk, Dear White People, Southside With You, among others.
Nikkolas Smith has expressed that most of his paintings are unfinished, reflecting how the lives of many people who he portrays were cut short. This may also amplify the reality that our work in reaching social justice must continue and that we must continue to speak out.
We spoke with Smith over email about his path and inspirations, the impact of social media on movements for societal change, and ways in which young artists can take action.
How did you make the decision to become a full-time freelance artist? When you start a new project or receive a commission, what inspires you or informs your work?
As I was working full time as a theme park designer coming from a Master of Architecture, I realized that art was my true passion. As a side hobby, it had already led me to national children’s book deals, Hollywood movie poster opportunities, and film illustration jobs. After 11 years in theme park architecture, I decided it was time to make my passion of art my full time career. There were so many issues in society that I wanted to devote more time to speaking to through my art, and many stories of my own that I wanted to have more time to develop. These beautiful stories of hope in society, and human beings fighting for equality, inspire my art daily.
Who has been most influential in your life or on your art?
Not to sound cliché, but the life and story of Jesus’ compassion for the hurting and broken has been the greatest influence in my life in terms of how I seek to create art that cries out for justice for all, and shows the humanity in the outcast and disenfranchised in our society.
Do you think that through social media, art can contribute now more than ever to societal change?
The power of social media is so great, and it is being harnessed at a time where we need a message of justice and peace to spread globally in an instant. When people like Michelle Obama and Janet Jackson share my portraits, I see just how powerful this tool can be to get the message of racial equality to the world in a matter of minutes.
You have said you consider yourself an artivist, do you consider your work to be human rights work?
I do. I believe art has the ability to change the hearts and minds of its audience, and I aim to create art that puts people in the shoes of someone they may not agree with or care about, in order to help create a more just environment for everyone.
From perhaps increasing awareness to improving public policy, what are ways that young artists can help take action and bring about change?
Young artists can heed the call and become artivists by using their creative talents to creating work that helps people see a new perspective and motivates them to create positive change. Sometimes that manifests itself in art that displays the brokenness of the world and wakes people up. Other times it is art that creates an image of where we need to go, and what the world should look like. In both cases, artists can prompt their audience to take concrete steps to make a difference, such as signing a petition or calling a district attorney to demand change.
Why was George Floyd’s death the breaking point that made everyone say, we can’t allow this to happen any longer?
The anger and sadness was definitely present when Mike Brown was murdered years ago, but it is clear to me that multiple factors have contributed to a last-straw scenario this time. In our current moment, we have a tragically gripping video of George Floyd’s murder, a growing distrust of government/law enforcement, and a health crisis that has millions of Americans on the brink of despair. But a key factor here is that people are just extremely tired of Black lives being disrespected and taken from this Earth prematurely, especially at the hands of law enforcement.
There is a duty for everyone to continue shining their light by fearlessly demanding justice, and in turn showing the world a stark contrast between unjust authoritarianism, and justified uprisings in defense of human life.
Nikkolas Smith
What do you think needs to happen in society to not let the current spirit and intensity of the national protests and movement die out and to bring about the actual change that is so needed?
There is a duty for everyone to continue shining their light by fearlessly demanding justice, and in turn showing the world a stark contrast between unjust authoritarianism, and justified uprisings in defense of human life. I address this visually in one of my latest pieces entitled Reflect. It was my follow up piece to the tributes, and a response to the latest protest environment that has taken place. An environment unnecessarily injected with aggressive, violent, attacks. This piece aims to inspire a feeling of duty and purpose in all those standing up (or taking a knee) in support of Black lives, especially while facing unnecessary aggression and lawless hostility from “riot police” all across America.
To all of you on the front lines, protesting in the face of injustice, this art speaks to your duty to REFLECT:
“So that they may see what they have become…
So that they may see what they have become…
So that they may see your light.
So that they may see what they have become…
So that we may see what they have always been.”
See more of Nikkolas’ work: @nikkolas_smith nikkolas.com
