Niz is a muralist and our September 2019 Artist of the Month. She is the genius behind our GIANT Barbara Jordan mural which currently resides in the WG Clubhouse! Check out our full interview with her below:

Jenny Kearney: What experiences inspired you to get involved with activism through art?

Niz: One of my first jobs was as a social worker doing HIV / Hep C prevention with street kids struggling with addiction. Art was a way for me to create media that was captivating and relevant to them while communicating vital public health information, as well as addressing social and personal issues that affected their self-esteem. I chose to focus exclusively on art as a career because I wanted to be as effective as possible with my visuals.

JK: What key issues influence your work?

N: Currently, female empowerment and equality and ocean conservation are at the top of my list as far as issues that are influencing my work. My experiences as a social worker have heavily influenced my work, in that I learned how to communicate serious issues in a beautiful, subtle and captivating way that is effective in reaching audiences that internally feel half-dead or apathetic.

JK: What projects have you been working on recently?

N: Right now, I am working on a piece I will paint live at EMERGE, Austin’s annual graffiti art show... Other than that, I have been traveling in Mexico painting pieces in pirate coves and collaborating with other Mexican artists on murals.

JK: What accomplishment are you most proud of?

N: Being a full-time artist and single Mom.