Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Abstract

Hi Nick, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

Absolutely. My art journey began at a young age with a love for sketching and drawing, nurtured by my close-knit family. My grandmother and several aunts and uncles are painters and enthusiasts of the arts. Some of my cousins are into painting canvases, animation, and other artistic forms. Art has been a constant presence in my life for as long as I can remember. While only a few family members pursued art professionally, many paint as a hobby, which I find pure and inspiring in its own right.

It wasn’t until I started painting graffiti in 2013 that I truly came alive as an artist. This experience allowed me to listen to my inner voice and let it guide my creative endeavors, embarking on a thrilling journey of artistic exploration, eventually leading to my mural painting and studio practice today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

I wouldn’t say it’s been smooth or fast, haha. But that’s okay. Being an artist requires more patience than anything else I’ve experienced in my life, and that patience brings resilience, determination, and a deep inner drive to keep going, even when the journey gets tough.

Having good people in my corner is crucial. My fiance, Courtney, my friend Mitch in Canada, Casey in Alabama, my parents, and soon-to-be parents-in-law all help keep me centered and on the right path, whether navigating difficult clients or other challenges.

Being a full-time artist isn’t just about me—it’s a team effort that includes clients, close friends, family, and anyone who engages with my work.

In my early years as a full-time artist, I had a month where I couldn’t even cover my power bill… All my groceries spoiled. I had to shower in the dark. It sucked. I didn’t tell anyone. Not even my girlfriend at the time, not my parents. I didn’t want to ask for help. I wanted to dig myself out of it myself. This was when shit really got real. I did everything I could, driving around the city to find opportunities and walls to paint. Through my determination and effort, I got my lights back on. I’ve been fortunate to avoid major financial scares since then, though there have been close calls. How you rise from those challenges is what really counts.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I paint large format murals on interior/exterior walls, as well as large studio work for private collectors and corporate clients. I’m most proud that I’m still going. I honestly gave myself a few months when I first started this journey, and it’s insane that I’m still going, my lights are still on, and I get to do this for a living, it’s a trip. I constantly try to pinch myself, even when it’s tough, that it’s insane I’m even still doing this.

I constantly remind myself, even during tough times, how amazing it is to still be doing this. I don’t take it for granted—well, maybe sometimes when I’m creatively stuck, struggling to find inspiration, or dealing with a challenging client. But it’s important to snap out of that mindset and remember that what we do as artists is build up communities and inspire new generations. I want to show people what’s possible, that the world is not static but ever-changing, and that they can be a force for good and put positivity out there.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?

Absolutely. Everyone who’s played a role in my journey, you know who you are. Classmates at Herron School of Art and Design kept the laughs and creativity flowing during school, and colleagues and clients alike give me creative freedom, trust, and enable big things to happen.

It’s so gnarly that some clients trust me to paint massive murals on their structures. It trips me out every time. I started as a little graffiti writer, and now I’m using a massive boom lift, 60 feet in the air, with a big paint sprayer, dumping paint, and ripping huge lines of tape. It’s crazy what all goes into each project and all the people involved.

To everyone who’s helped me with projects or even dropped a comment or DM to show love, you mean the world to me. Thank you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nickabstract.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nick.abstract
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickabstract/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nickabstract