Meet Niki Li | Visual Artist & Graphic Designer

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

Hi Niki, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am Niki Li, a visual artist and graphic designer originally from China, now thriving in the dynamic environment of New York City. This vibrant metropolis, with its multifaceted diversity, has become the fertile ground for my professional and personal growth. In both my corporate ventures and personal pursuits, graphic arts serve as the primary channel for my creative expression.

I have always had a clear vision of my aspirations in the arts from a young age, which fueled my development in painting and fashion design. My artistic journey also led me to explore music. Although classically trained as a violinist, I discovered a passion for pop music as a teen, teaching myself guitar, singing, and writing my own songs. In my freshman year of college, while studying fashion design, I competed in ‘Super Girls,’ a nationwide music talent show in China akin to American Idol, and achieved national recognition by reaching the top 36 with my original pop-rock music. This exposure opened doors in the entertainment industry, resulting in touring and performer residencies. However, due to the uncertainties of show business, I chose to return to school and complete my design degree.

Post-college, I embarked on a career as a fashion designer with several multinational corporations. However, this role left me yearning for a more multidimensional form of expression that could intertwine visual arts, fashion, and music to address topics such as cultural appropriation and consumerism. My desire to illuminate these topics through my art led me to pursue an MFA at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Here, I delved into the expansive realm of contemporary art, merging my diverse artistic expressions into a cohesive language.

The diversity and openness of New York City has always captivated me as a place where I could flourish both personally and professionally. After earning my MFA, I relocated to NYC without a job or connections. In hindsight, I appreciate the boldness and foresight that propelled me forward. Perhaps it was fate; I secured my first job as a graphic designer within a month, unfolding my adventure of finding my unique place in this complex bustling metropolis.

Creating is my way of existing. Now, 6 years in The Big Apple, I feel proud to say that I have solidified both a corporate identity as a graphic designer and my personal identity as a visual artist. Life in NYC has also imparted valuable lessons about understanding the nuances of people and circumstances, appreciating the poetry in life’s complexities. From China to NYC, my journey has affirmed my belief that talent and hard work make us shine, and that the boundaries between different art forms can dissolve, fostering a more powerful interdisciplinary expression. I am proud of my journey thus far and I am excited for what the future holds.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a graphic designer, I craft visually compelling marketing pitch decks for fashion brands. Concurrently, as a visual artist, I employ graphic arts to probe and spark discussions on cultural appropriation, cross-cultural misinterpretation, consumerism, and capitalism. Balancing these two aspects of my life is a privilege.

My international background encourages me to discuss cultural appropriation in my art. In Western visual culture, Chinese characters are often used for aesthetics, disregarding their linguistic significance, leading to misinterpretation. To address this, I created “No. 1 Best Chinese Tattoo Shop,” a conceptual space featuring original tattoos designed in my stylized English font resembling Chinese characters. These tattoos are applied to a variety of merchandise such as T-shirts and tattoo stickers, inviting visitors to engage in dialogues about the complexities of cultural exchange. The project underscores how superficial cultural engagement can foster misunderstanding rather than genuine respect and clarity. I consider this project a good embodiment of my concepts and craftsmanship as a visual artist.

Recently, I collaborated with Jurin Sushi in Midtown Manhattan, integrating my abstract portrait series, ‘Drawing the Line: A Sketchy Ex-Posé,’ into the restaurant’s ambiance. These portraits, with bold strokes and playful hues, encapsulate the diverse and complex personalities of my connections. This project is both a lamentation and celebration of the intricate dance of love within NYC’s perplexing urban landscape, exploring the challenges of forming genuine bonds amid hyper-individualism, emotional capitalism, and the commodification of romance.

Besides visual art, I model occasionally to stay connected to my passion for performing and broaden my creative network. Modeling offers a dynamic outlet, inspiring me differently than my static creations.

I perceive my work, identity, and journey as products of globalization. I strive to merge art, design, and music into a unique language, drawing on my diverse background. My artistic style, characterized by vibrant colors, abstract shapes, and humor, addresses serious and poignant themes. I aspire for my art to be both visually captivating and thought-provoking. While I may not have solutions to social issues, I see my role as sparking discussions and raising awareness. If my art can entertain while prompting introspection, encouraging people to look beyond everyday mundanities and consider ways to improve overlooked aspects of life, then I have achieved my goals both aesthetically and conceptually. This is my contribution to humanity, driven by a desire to make a positive impact in an artistic 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.
I think NYC is a perfect place to explore cultural diversity and the arts, so I’d definitely plan an itinerary that taps into a variety of artsy events.

I’d probably split the trip into a ‘Manhattan part’ and a ‘Brooklyn part.’ For the ‘Manhattan part,’ we’d focus on the more ‘mainstream’ sightseeing activities. The major museums in Manhattan are a must-see for anyone wanting an ‘artsy immersion.’ I’d also take them on an architecture walking tour in the Upper West Side and Upper East Side to experience the ‘quintessential New York’ street view, featuring elegant brownstone townhouses, followed by a tour of the skyscrapers showcasing the Art Deco era. Between this urban scenery tour, we’d add a visit to Central Park to enjoy this wonderful oasis that brings an interesting ‘duality’ to the concrete jungle. A rooftop bar in Midtown with a spectacular full view of Manhattan or a quaint speakeasy with exotic craft cocktails would be a great way to wrap up the walking tour. Manhattan really excels at Italian flavors and brick oven pizzas, so I’d totally recommend going to a fine Italian spot for dinner and grabbing a brick oven pizza for a snack on the go. I’ll also take the lead to some authentic Chinese spots!

For the ‘Brooklyn part’ of the tour, I’d suggest a walking tour in Williamsburg and Bushwick to soak up the ‘less corporate artsy vibes.’ The best way to experience these neighborhoods is to be spontaneous and go with the flow—walk around, stop whenever something catches your eye, because there are so many interesting coffee shops, vintage stores, bars, craft shops, underground music venues, and murals. Almost every street corner has hidden gems. Hop into a shop, chat with the people there, and you’ll be surprised at how many interesting personalities you might encounter! I’d definitely take my friends to a music event or an open mic in Brooklyn, where you can meet really fascinating and talented people and feel the warm welcome of the artist community.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Navigating life in the US as a foreign woman of color seeking a career in arts and marketing has indeed been a challenging journey. Reflecting on it, I sometimes find it unbelievable how much difficulty I’ve overcome. I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to my parents for their unconditional love, patient listening, unwavering support, and, most importantly, their invaluable life wisdom that has guided me through many tough moments. I feel grateful to have my parents as my best friends, whom I can trust completely and always turn to for advice.

I also want to express my thanks to two dear friends I met in the States. Their kindness, priceless personal experiences, local insights, and life-changing advice have significantly impacted my perspective.

These individuals have taught me to focus on personal growth and building my skillset and confidence, rather than dwelling on situations and people I cannot change. They showed me that by concentrating on my development, my confidence and substance will naturally shine through. I learned that when circumstances are unfavorable, we can channel negative emotions into a powerful force that propels us to new heights we might never have reached if our path had been easier. Hardship, I realized, is the perfect laboratory for self-development.

For anyone feeling stuck in their personal or professional growth, I recommend doing a deep internal search. Identify your biggest fears, personality flaws, and weaknesses. Consider their root causes and potential solutions. If you can complete this mental journey and act on your discoveries, I guarantee your life will enter a new chapter.

Website: https://www.nikili.club/

Instagram: @nikili1220 https://www.instagram.com/nikili1220/ @iamnikili https://www.instagram.com/iamnikili/

Other: Abstract portrait series: ‘Drawing the Line: A Sketchy Ex-Posé,’ – Contact for rates – https://www.instagram.com/p/C1kke25Rd52/?img_index=1

Digital painting: ‘Quarantine Reflection’ – Contact for rates – https://art.kunstmatrix.com/en/artwork/niki-li/quarantine-reflection

Digital painting: ‘Quarantine Reflection 4’ – Contact for rates – https://art.kunstmatrix.com/en/artwork/niki-li/quarantine-reflection-4

Digital painting: ‘Quarantine Reflection 3’ – Contact for Rates – https://art.kunstmatrix.com/en/artwork/niki-li/quarantine-reflection-3

Image Credits
Nicholas Persaud
darkmatter.nef
Alonso Nichols