MEET NIKKO WASHINGTON

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Nikko Washington was highly influenced by the culture and landscape of Hyde Park while growing up. The child who grew up painting and drawing only took so long to take the world of screen-printing and graphic designing by storm. However, here's an interesting thing to note about him. Through his carefully crafted themes, he makes sure to reflect through his art what resonates with him on a personal level. Displacement and gentrification are only some of the many themes the artist has grown his work into over the years.

Again, Washington has never limited his work to his own experiences. Once you start digging deeper, you'll find out how well he has packaged his art to represent what he and the people closest to him have experienced throughout their lives.

After all, it's not every day that we come across maestros who know how to excel with their individual work alone. However, if there’s a thinking pattern that Nikko Washington has outgrown over the years, it’s to never limit himself to a certain role. As the Artistic Director for “Save Money,” the rising hip-hop collective in Chicago, Washington has also learned a thing or two about exhibiting his work effectively.

Some of his best work in the past included portraits of black martyrdom, leaders, and culture. After earning a solid reputation in the music scene in Chicago, Nikko Washington also designed album covers for several hip-hop artists such as Noname and Vic Mensa.

While some of his work is hard to make sense of, it’s important to look beyond the abstract colors and complicated blends. Once you scrape through the outer layers, you’ll find yourself in awe of his underlying message.

During a Q&A session with a local platform, Washington revealed that he always took painting seriously but was hardly taught about any past or contemporary black artists in school. As someone who was always on the lookout for something to be influenced by, Washington knew what his heart desired. Beyond courses and curriculums, most of his understanding of modern art was influenced by Black artists such as Emory Douglas, Sam Gilliam, Jacob Lawrence, Robert Colescott, etc.

However, artists are not the only source of inspiration for Washington. Growing up in Chicago exposed him to a whole lot of graffiti on the walls. His color theory, in fact, was majorly influenced by this form of art. While speaking to the same local platform, Nikko Washington further stated that there's something unique about the style and energy Chicago has to offer. It's unlike any other city he has been to so far.

It may have taken Nikko a while to realize that art and design belong together, but through his typography, he made sure to bridge the gap between the two worlds.

In the end, the pandemic may have slowed his progress down to an extent, but he doesn't mind utilizing this opportunity to meditate and contemplate what direction he would like to take next.