Meet Nikaiya Lawson | Artist and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikaiya Lawson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikaiya, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It kind of just happened in a way. In high school I was asked to compete in a mural competition for Zappos in downtown Las Vegas. I painted two live-murals facing a popular tourist street on Freemont. At the same time I won several huge art awards for two series I was working on in my junior and senior year. A business owner and family friend was opening his own barbershop and commissioned me to paint almost the entire space. After finishing for him, he sat me down and suggested that I needed to take my talent more seriously and as a business owner himself he wanted to help me. Before entering college my parents helped me come up with a “college business plan” to help me make this possible.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m told that I’m a very humble and introspective person. It’s probably because I’ve had a truly wild life and I just so happened to be raised in the wildest place. I just don’t do the norm. My whole life revolves around being creative and different. I’m most proud of everything I’ve accomplished all before the age of 21. My art has been in the Pratt, The Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, permanently displayed in multiple administrative buildings in multiple states and at every school I’ve attended and I won a Silver Medal of Distinction at Carnegie Hall, which was presented by Tina Fey, Zac Posen, and Rose Byrne. As of writing this I have done 9 murals, shown in 10 galleries, done 5 vendor booths, and now I am currently curating an exhibit based off of my hand-carved woodblock designs. I have been working tirelessly on this exhibit for the past seven months and I can’t wait to see the end result. It will be up for 3 months at the James A. Michener Library at UNC. I without a doubt would not have accomplished these things without my support system pushing me outside my boundaries. It has been such a challenging, and at times soul-crushing journey to get where I am. Along the way I’ve learned that for one, I must find my happiness and put it above all else and to never ever stop working. I want the world to know that above all odds I made it, and hopefully my story can encourage other to keep following their dreams not matter what’s in their way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First I would take them to this weird spot on UNC’s campus that’s this spooky natural echo chamber. I’d then show them the “graffitti” tunnels on the way to class. After that we could get brunch at the Snooze and take a stroll through Centennial Village in Greeley. We could get lunch at the Rio and chill at Lincoln Park. Later we could go to Stella’s and have an arcade night!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First I want to shoutout my Nana. We always joke that she’s my manager! She has always pushed me to be myself and know my full potential, even when I felt like my art wasn’t that great. To my Papa, he was always my voice of reason and gave me so much advice on building connections, starting a business, being professional. They are so accomplished and it means a lot that they believe in me. Next I want to shoutout my friends for helping shape me into the artist I am today. I’ve learned so much and have truly begun to thrive since meeting my people. We have the same ambitions, goals, and visions for ourselves and each other. Without my community of friends, family, and mentors including: Mrs. Ashley Stroud, Mr. Andrew Meyer, Mrs. Cece Wire, Linda Wolfe, DT, Juanie, Mark, and Alanna; I wouldn’t be here today!

Website: https://sweetleafart.wixsite.com/artwork

Instagram: sweet.laef

Youtube: Sweet Leaf