Nikkolas Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nikkolas Smith
Smith at the 2023 Texas Book Festival
Born	1985 (age 39–40) United States
Education	Master's of Architecture
Alma mater	Hampton University
Occupation	Artist, illustrator, activist
Movement	Protest art
Children	1

Nikkolas Smith is an American artist, illustrator, and activist. He creates art that often shows the stories of African Americans and highlights important social justice issues. His digital paintings are very popular online. They have been seen in famous places like Times Square and in major newspapers like The Washington Post and The New York Times.

Early Life and Learning

Nikkolas Smith grew up in Spring, Texas. He was the youngest of six children. He earned a master's degree in architecture from Hampton University in Virginia. While there, he drew political cartoons for the school newspaper. After college, Smith moved to Los Angeles. He worked as a Disney Imagineer until 2019, helping design theme park attractions.

Art and Activism

Smith calls himself an "artivist." This means he combines activism with his artwork. He uses his art to speak out about important social issues.

Creating Digital Art

Smith's art style changes from pop art to impressionist. He creates his digital paintings on his iPad using Photoshop. His work is inspired by artists like Nina Simone and Norman Rockwell. In 2013, Smith started his "Sunday Sketch" series. He shares new sketches every week on his Twitter and Instagram pages. Some of these sketches were even put into a book.

Illustrating Children's Books

Nikkolas Smith is also a talented author and illustrator of children's picture books. He illustrated The 1619 Project: Born on the Water (2021). This book was inspired by Nikole Hannah-Jones's The 1619 Project. Fast Company magazine said Smith's drawings used African symbols and different colors. They also showed the feelings of enslaved people.

Born on the Water became a number one best-seller on The New York Times Best Seller List for children's picture books. It was also on Time for Kids' list of best children's books in 2021. Smith's paintings from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil became very popular online. This led to him getting a book deal. In 2016, he released the book The Golden Girls of Rio. This book was nominated for a NAACP Image Award in 2017.

Art for Social Change

Smith's art often shows people who have faced unfair treatment. He also paints civil rights figures, athletes, and cultural icons. He started using art for activism after the tragic event involving Trayvon Martin. In 2013, his portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. wearing a hoodie became very popular.

In 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement asked Smith to paint George Floyd. This finished artwork was shown on billboards in Times Square. It was also displayed at the Beverly Center shopping mall in Los Angeles. He has also painted portraits of other important figures like Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.

Honoring Chadwick Boseman

After actor Chadwick Boseman passed away in 2020, Smith created a large digital painting. The painting was called King Chad. It showed Boseman, who played T'Challah in the movie Black Panther. He was giving the "Wakanda Forever" salute to a child wearing a Black Panther mask. This painting was temporarily shown at Downtown Disney in California. Smith later donated King Chad to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. It is now on permanent display there.

Other Notable Works

Smith has also created posters for movies. These include Dear White People, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Black Panther. In 2019, Art Basel asked Smith to design the logo for their "What Matters" campaign. Many famous people have shared Smith's artwork online. These include Michelle Obama, Rihanna, and Janet Jackson. His digital painting of Atatiana Jefferson was even shown in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2021, Smith created a piece for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). It was called "First Practicing Vegan." It showed Cory Booker and other well-known vegans. The artwork was a modern version of a famous painting called Freedom from Want. This poster appeared at bus stops in New Jersey during the 2021 holiday season.

Personal Life

Nikkolas Smith is married to a documentary filmmaker. They have one son together.