Niki Lopez is a multifaceted artist, activist, social practitioner, and cultural programmer, known for her vibrant color palette, captivating masks, and a body of work that delves into her experiences of trauma and healing through the arts.
As an independent graphic designer, Niki has earned acclaim for her award-winning work, which has left its mark in diverse locations such as New York, California, and New Orleans. Her creative journey has brought her into collaboration with notable figures, including actor and philanthropist CCH Pounder.
In recognition of her unwavering commitment to service and advocacy, Niki was honored with the Louis E. Peters Memorial Service Award in 2004. She served as the Co-Grand Marshal of Wilton Manors/Stoneawall Pride in 2019, celebrated as the ‘Future of Advocacy.’ Additionally, she earned a nomination for the Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Fellow Recognition in 2020/2021 and received Broward County’s Arts & Culture Visionaries Award by ArtServe in 2020.
One of Niki Lopez’s distinctive contributions to the arts is her avant-garde annual exhibition, hosted at the 1310 Gallery – Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts since 2008. These exhibitions are a fusion of art, performances, and community outreach, made possible in part by grants from the Broward Cultural Division, Community Foundations of Broward, and sponsorship from AHF – AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
Niki’s remarkable life story was featured on the series “People Magazine Investigates: Cults” on the Investigation Discovery channel. She courageously shared her experience of being raised in an abusive cult, an ordeal that thrived on secrecy until she and fellow survivors broke their silence, ultimately dismantling the cult and its leader. This transformative experience ignited Niki’s determination to create a space within her art to address the “elephant” – the undeniable truths that often go unspoken. This led to the birth of “What’s Your Elephant®,” a movement that provides a safe and expressive platform for people to confront various unspoken topics through visual and performing arts, creative community building, hands-on projects, workshops, and talks.
Niki Lopez is also the producer and host of “The Circle,” a weekly Facebook live video podcast that amplifies the stories of the creative community, activists, and social entrepreneurs. Since January 2018, she has been fostering connections and inspiring change every Tuesday from 8:30 to 9 PM EST on Facebook (http://facebook.com/nikilopezcreative) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/Nikilopez19).
Beyond her own artistry, Niki is a dedicated teaching artist, engaging in private contracts such as teaching arts to the City of Lauderdale Lakes seniors. For over eight years, she has conducted ongoing teaching artist residencies with Arts 4 All Florida (formerly VSA Florida), bringing art education to public schools and children with disabilities, as well as those within the DJJ – Juvenile Detention Centers. Her commitment to arts education is further highlighted by her collaboration with The Frank Art Gallery in 2019 for a special teaching arts residency program that culminated in a student showcase.
Niki Lopez’s art is not confined to galleries; it extends into her advocacy work and her generous donations of artwork for fundraising initiatives supporting various causes, including HRC – Human Rights Campaign and Equality Florida. She also contributes her skills to numerous private group exhibits within South Florida, collaborating with cultural groups, grassroots initiatives, and nonprofits such as the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, Arts United, GLBX, Gay & Lesbian Business Exchange, HACFL – Fort Lauderdale Housing Authority, Drag It Out, LadyFest Miami, Spoken Soul Festival, LA Lee YMCA, and the World AIDS MUSEUM and Educational Center.
Her creative activism extends to her role as a co-founder of Artists for Black Lives Matter and her involvement with the 1310 Bandits, a nationally recognized, award-winning team of visionary filmmakers, predominantly led by LGBTQ women.
Niki Lopez’s art and advocacy converge in a powerful expression of creativity, compassion, and community engagement. Her work challenges societal norms, amplifies marginalized voices, and serves as a beacon of hope and transformation.
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