We recently connected with Chykeem Nichols and have shared our conversation below.

Chykeem, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

The legacy I am crafting is one that will be remembered as subtle yet penetrative. My name will ring bells in ways that don’t sound but feel alarming. I want the mere idea of me & my work to trigger your emotional cues whether that may be the warmth that rides the nape of your neck, turning your stomach into a cement that melts into the pavement, transforms you into a version of yourself that you consistently evade. I just want to create a legacy that touches people, no matter the presence of grace.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Miyagi, a photographer based in Brooklyn, NY. My medium of photography is 35mm film, this medium has attracted me as the amount of patience, diligence, and intention needed with shooting film is something that is consistent with who I am as a person. This adds to my art as its very story driven visuals imbued with concealed details or messages that I leave open to viewers to interpret. I also enjoy a good juxtaposition in my work. Through my portraits I always intend to capture my subjects essence as authentic as possible while maintaining a layer of unfamiliarity of environments creating a nice contrast.,

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think maintaining a sense of genuineness is an essential part of building your reputation. Especially coming from a larger city like NY, people can often tell when others are using them and trying to take advantage. Making sure that you keep your intentions pure and genuine tend to go a long way as people know exactly what to expect when working with you.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

One of my biggest goals is to create art that not only acknowledges, resonates, and push the culture but also tell stories in the culture that we have yet to be shown. I want my art to be heavily influenced by black culture as it is the core of who I am. I am nothing without where I stem from and the culture has molded me in ways where I need to pay it back.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ragerspeace/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiyagiRage