Nikkolas Smith is an Artivist, Concept Artist, Children’s Books Author, Film Illustrator (Judas and the Black Messiah, Space Jam II, Black Panther Wakanda Forever, They Cloned Tyrone) and Movie Poster Designer (Southside with You, Black Panther, Soul, Stranger Fruit).

A Master of Architecture recipient from Hampton University, after designing theme parks at Walt Disney Imagineering for 11 years, he has written and illustrated the picture books such as The Artivist, “The Golden Girls of Rio” (nominated for an NAACP Image Award), My Hair Is Poofy And That’s Okay and World Cup Women. He is also the illustrator of #1 NYT Bestseller The 1619 Project: Born on the Water in collaboration with Pulitzer Price-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and award-winning author Renée Watson, I am Ruby Bridges written by civil rights icon Ruby Bridges, Black Panther Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream, authored by NYT Best-selling author Fred Joseph and That Flag, written by Tameka Fryer- Brown.

He is a proud 2016 White House Innovators of Color fellow and he is the creator of the 2023 Marvel Artist Series in collaboration with Target for an apparel line featuring Black superheroes. As an illustrator of color, Nikkolas creates captivating art that can spark important conversations 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 and shared worldwide. Nikkolas also talks at conferences and schools all over the country, and leads workshops in digital painting character and movie poster and design. Born in Houston, Texas, Nikkolas lives in Los Angeles, California.

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