INTRODUCTION

My name is Nikki Lynette, and I am a multidisciplinary social impact artist who uses my work in visual art, performance art and film to activate for mental health awareness. I employ my unique perspective as a neurodivergent creative & suicide survivor to interpret tough subject matter in a way that is accessible to the viewer. I create work for the silent majority, folks in demographics that have been traditionally left out of deep conversations about mental health... the ones who are suffering the most. My work intends to provoke discussion about the true ugliness and the beauty of our own inner world, which hopefully inspires empathy and compassion for others.

EXPERIMENTAL FILM / NEW MEDIA

My film work confronts the notion that the shortened attention spans of today are inherently a bad thing, and counters it with mixed media art that feels urgent and engages the eye, the ear, and the mind. Over the years as I showcased my fine art in galleries and saw my music used to tell stories in hit TV shows, I began to explore how these different mediums of art function in conversation with one another. I have evolved my practice to blend new media with more classic art forms such as song, performance art, set design & documentary film.

VIDEO ART / MOVING IMAGE

I create video artwork from my own freehand drawings, paintings, photos, original music, and digital art. I use the resulting works in standalone projects as well as in my performances, on the stage or on camera. This style of animation is fun. It's especially effective on social media, and I like to use it to create mental health advocacy content.

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Creating animations from hand drawn and some digitally drawn elements gives the resulting work a human feel. I’m not against AI generated art, and have used it as a tool in some projects. But the imperfections of art made by humans lands as more accessible and familiar than the technical perfection of art that’s generated by tech. My work centers impact, and people’s reactions to the various mediums of art I experiment with informs my practice.

READ MORE.

Creating animations from hand drawn and some digitally drawn elements gives the resulting work a human feel. I’m not against AI generated art, and have used it as a tool in some projects. But the imperfections of art made by humans lands as more accessible and familiar than the technical perfection of art that’s generated by tech. My work centers impact, and people’s reactions to the various mediums of art I experiment with informs my practice.

PAINTING

I include painting in my practice as a social impact artist because it allows me to express thoughts and emotions visually in a way other mediums don't. My painting tends to be a deeply personal, raw and therapeutic process for me. I love to work with acrylics, and occasionally, guache.

WHY SOCIAL IMPACT ART?

The time I spent in the psychiatric hospital after my suicide attempt was transformative for me. Not because of the treatment, which was abysmal, but because of the women in my ward. After learning they, too, felt misrepresented, unheard, and misunderstood, it shocked me that women of various ages from different walks of life were all feeling what I felt. I told them that when I got out, I would use my platform as an artist to tell our story. I center mental health in my art because, as a person living with a mental illness, it’s one of the most important subjects I could possibly tackle. It keeps me accountable to my wellness, but most importantly, it keeps me grounded in the reality that so many others are working to be accountable for theirs as well. My own work is a constant reminder that I am never alone.

WHY SOCIAL IMPACT ART?

The time I spent in the psychiatric hospital after my suicide attempt was transformative for me. Not because of the treatment, which was abysmal, but because of the women in my ward. After learning they, too, felt misrepresented, unheard, and misunderstood, it shocked me that women of various ages from different walks of life were all feeling what I felt. I told them that when I got out, I would use my platform as an artist to tell our story. I center mental health in my art because, as a person living with a mental illness, it’s one of the most important subjects I could possibly tackle. It keeps me accountable to my wellness, but most importantly, it keeps me grounded in the reality that so many others are working to be accountable for theirs as well. My own work is a constant reminder that I am never alone.