Nikiya

Nikiya Kiara Basilio Crisostomo [NKBC] - I consider myself an artivist; my primary goal with my art is to harness unity, love, and a heightened awareness of social responsibility through courageous self-expression. The content of my art is shaped by two main factors: (1) I was born and spent my childhood in the Philippines, and moving to the United States opened my eyes to social inequities. This fed my motivation to use my talents to address social inequities, drawing from the personal experiences and memories that have shaped me as a Filipino in order to use the opportunities and resources available to me as an American. (2) I struggle with emotional/mental issues, and art has been a form of therapy and way of sharing the beautiful side of my struggles. Instead of being inwardly consumed by my emotions, I create art to connect with others by tangibly conveying how enriching and vivid the world can be when one is fully in touch with every single thought and feeling.