Nikkolas Smith ARTivist statement:

her name is America...
she is, within herself, an abstract canvas...
a frustrating, complex display of emotions and scars...
she does not dream much anymore...
her primary objective is now survival.Nikkolas Smith

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Bio: Nikkolas Smith, a native of Houston, Texas, is a Master of Architecture recipient from Hampton University. After designing theme parks at Walt Disney Imagineering for 11 years, he is now an ARTivist, Concept artist, Children's Books Author, Film Illustrator and Movie poster designer (Black Panther, Soul, Beale Street, Southside With You, Dear White People, Stranger Fruit). He is the author/illustrator of the picture books The Golden Girls of Rio (nominated for an NAACP Image Award) and My Hair Is Poofy And That's Okay.

The latest children's book he has illustrated, World Cup Women features the World Champion USWNT. He is a proud 2016 White House Innovators of Color fellow. His most famous and recognized works focus on Artivism. As an illustrator of color, Nikkolas creates captivating art that can spark important conversations around social justice in today's world and inspire meaningful change. Many of his viral and globally published sketches are included in his latest book Sunday Sketch: The Art of Nikkolas, a visual journey on life and a collection of more than 100 sketches he has done in the last five years.

His works have been featured on TIME Magazine, The New York Times, The WashingtonPost, CNN, Buzzfeed, the Academy of Motion Pictures, The Guardian, ABC, NBC, KCET, NPR, People and many more. His art has been shared on social media by Michelle Obama, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Van Jones, Shaun King, Rihanna, Colin Kaepernick, Janet Jackson, Viola Davis, Jamie Foxx, Erykah Badu, Lupita Nyong'o, Kendrick Lamar, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ava Duvernay, Common, Simone Biles, Miley Cirus, Mark Ruffalo, Amy Schumer and many others. Nikkolas also talks at conferences (TEDxWatts) and schools all over the country, and leads workshops in digital painting character and movie poster and design. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Devin Elle Kurtz "Fatigue" on metal sheet

ARTivist Statement: I can see the exit... And yet... Here I stay.

I try to never be satisfied with my work, but to always treat that as a positive. I want to constantly be improving myself, which means never feeling totally comfortable with where I am. What I try to always be sure about is that I will get to where I want to go. I may doubt the skill I have at the given moment, but I know that I will chase down the results I want until I can achieve them. There is plenty of time in my life, however long it may be, and I love the process of learning and creating. For this reason, I am always striving for better work and better knowledge. I consciously try to reframe my negative thoughts with positivity about the future, and I refuse to put myself down even when I experience failures. It can be hard to do this, very hard, because often as artists we attach our self-worth to the work we create. But if we can reframe a good artist not as someone who makes good work, but as someone always striving toward better work, the pressure shifts. As long as I'm working toward improvement, I am succeeding. Every failed piece along the way is just a stepping stone toward better results in the future.

Bio: I am a 23-year-old visual development artist, illustrator, and BG painter. I was born in Santa Cruz, California, in 1996. At 17 I moved to Laguna Beach to attend Laguna College of Art and Design with a major in Illustration. I began to feel that a traditional art college wasn't the place for me, and left LCAD after my first year to continue my freelance career and pursue other educational opportunities. I moved to Burbank and freelanced for two years while I took classes at Concept Design Academy and Schoolism. In 2016 I began exhibiting at conventions and have continued to grow that business alongside my illustration and concept work. In 2017 I started a background painting position with Rough Draft Studios in Glendale and have been working there ever since. From season 2 of "Disenchantment" forward I have been the lead background painter.

Syed Hassam Jafri ARTivist statement - Hi, I am Syed Hassam Jafri, I'm 25 years old and originlly a self-taught concept artist from Karachi, Pakistan. Currently studying bachelors of computer arts from Pakistan Air Force (KIET) College of Media Arts, majoring in animation. I have been working in various fields as a photographer, video editor and 3D artist on several commercials for some very wellknown brands. I also enjoy stylized medium and always eager to learn as much i can. Happy to answer any questions.

Grishma Shah ARTivist Statement: ETHEREAL: Too perfect for this world, yet she is expected to exist. As an artist, Grishma believes in the power of storytelling to entertain, educate, and liberate untold and unheard perspectives. As an amputee and three-time cancer survivor, Grishma (& her tumor) enjoy exploring constructs of beauty and worth through paintings and other storytelling mediums.

Bio: Grishma Shah is a multidisciplinary South Asian artist who consults with filmmakers, film festivals, and production houses in various stages of a story's journey. Her previous roles include unit production manager, producer, script supervisor, and film programming manager.

She is a 2021 3Arts Fellow and currently serves as Co-director of Chicago ReelAbilities Film Festival and co-writer for an international film. In 2020, Grishma joined Crip Camp's community leader/advisor group (film executively produced by President Barack Obama). In the same year Grishma was selected to be on the advisory committee of Chicago Film Festival Symposium (a community of 50+ film festivals in Chicago).

Efflam Mercier - Like Tears in The Wind

ARTivist Staement "This piece is from 2014, I was focused on trying to create the feeling of peace and serenity, something that could feel low-fi and cozy, but for some reason I wanted to contrast this with a character that looks like they just escaped something or experienced loss."

Bio: Efflam Mercier is a digital artist from France, currently working in Los Angeles. Efflam has worked in games, animation and movies for a while, yet, however fun dreaming up the wild and thrilling landscapes of fictional, escapist worlds might be, their heart has always been deeply concerned for this world. Our world. The world you can't change with a brush or photoshop. The world that can't be reimagined or rebooted if we don't like what we see. To this end, the intent of Ecocide Inc is to use satire and allegory to relentlessly chip away at the "social licence to operate" of oil companies and inform the public of the dangers of fossil fuel corruption.

Brett Stanley - The Sorrow

Bio: Underwater portrait photographer Brett Stanley has been working for over 10 years, and is still finding creative ways to create images that have a life of their own.

Brett loves being under the water and adding photography to that is just a bonus. His natural calm nature in the water really shows through and helps his clients to feel comfortable, which is the first aim of any underwater shoot.

Whilst based in Los Angeles, USA, the Australian born photographer travels frequently and relishes the chance to work with new people and new locations all over the world.

Always looking to innovate, Brett has built custom equipment and perfected his techniques to make every photoshoot the best it can be.

Now residing in Los Angeles, California, Brett is available for commercial work worldwide.

Brett Stanley - Lisa Falling

Bio: Underwater portrait photographer Brett Stanley has been working for over 10 years, and is still finding creative ways to create images that have a life of their own.

Brett loves being under the water and adding photography to that is just a bonus. His natural calm nature in the water really shows through and helps his clients to feel comfortable, which is the first aim of any underwater shoot.

Whilst based in Los Angeles, USA, the Australian born photographer travels frequently and relishes the chance to work with new people and new locations all over the world.

Always looking to innovate, Brett has built custom equipment and perfected his techniques to make every photoshoot the best it can be.

Now residing in Los Angeles, California, Brett is available for commercial work worldwide.

Aamir Tarin - In Repose

ARTivist Statement:

"there's is no good or bad in art, like a color of the bow tie goes with different personalities. But what is important that it has to echo its presence!"

Aiman Akhtar - Black Lives Matter

ARTivist Statement:
I consider myelf an empathic person, I can't see others suffering and not be deeply affected by it... This past summer with COVID-19 on the rise and protests demanding justice for George Floyd, I felt compelled to create a piece to stand in solidarity with the BLM movement, and unequivocally condemn police brutality.

Bio: Hi, my name is Aiman Akhtar and I'm a senior 3D artist and producer, specialized in developing stylized characters for animation, toys and games. After 6 years of working as a 3D generalist at various advertising studios in Chicago for commercial brands including Harley-Davidson, McDonald's and Hotels.com, I left to pursue a career in entertainment design in Los Angeles and have since worked for vfx, animation and game companies on projects for Disney, Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, Blizzard, 3Blackdot, Aaron Sims Creative, Alliance Studios, Method, Psyop, Proof, Stoopid Buddy, and Sky Castle Studios.

I'm also the founder of my own 3D development company, 3D Smiths LLC, and developing my own children's IP, Fungisaurs, as well as resident 3D print expert at Mold3D Academy, where I teach 3D Printing for ZBrush Artists and I share tutorials on my projects as an official streamer for ZBrush Live.