Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaquille Taylor. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Shaquille “BlackWikk” Taylor was born/raised in Alexandria, VA right outside Washington, DC (DMV).
His early interest in art came as a child growing up watching popular Saturday morning cartoons from the 1990-2000s era. During his childhood he would often ask his mother to buy comic books; not to read but simply recreate the characters and images within them.
After high school, this led to him briefly attending the prestigious HBCU Hampton University (school of architecture) where he learned the details of lining, perspectives, and how to bring out the vivid images in his head.
Shaquille “BlackWikk” Taylor became a father to his only son in 2017. This led to him diving back into drawing and ultimately picking up a paintbrush for the very first time. Finding time in the evening to create again. He spent countless nights studying bushes, types of paint, quality, and detail.
The name “BlackWikk” was created by a close friend who said that the bold black lines used to create the shapes and characters defined how his art popped out to the viewers’ eyes.
Ultimately “The BlackWikk Brand” was founded in 2018; where he first began painting custom commissions on the brims of dad hats, sneakers, jackets, and more. BlackWikk’s first major art collaboration came in that same year where he painted an entire backpack collection for a popular local sneaker boutique in Virginia called “Cool Kicks”.
It wasn’t until 2019 when BlackWikk painted his very first canvas where he now specializes in the medium of Acrylic
Paint in urban street-style fashion. Known for his signature “drip”, BlackWikk has showcased his artwork all over the DMV area, creating a known reputation as an artist and pioneer in his hometown.
In 2021, BlackWikk became the founder of “The ARTCADE co”. A pop-up art gallery that focuses on giving African American local artists a platform to step into the world of professional art and hip-hop culture. He also dedicates his current time to his community by teaching volunteer art classes to the youth at the same local Boys & Girls club he grew up in each week.
BlackWikk aims to be a prolific artist of his culture and community for the future to come.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
One of my biggest challenges was showcasing my artwork. Instagram gets you online recognition, but it takes real-life people to sell and promote your art. Pictures of paintings can never tell the true depth and story of the art that’s created. That’s why I created the ARTCADE co to give myself and other rising artist an exclusive private event-style gallery that would allow us to thrive in our own real-time platform.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to make my art pop, shine yet be bold which is why I allow my outlining and solid colors to stand out more with Epoxy coating. I try to envision my art in my mind. Seeing every detail so that as I physically create it translates to the canvas.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Network, speak as if you are sure of yourself. What you do is what makes you different and unique. Show it to the world
Pricing:
- $100+ per Canvas foot
- $100 per hour for personal art classes
Contact Info:
- Website: BlackWikk.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/BlackWikk
- Facebook: Facebook.com/BlackWikk
Image Credits
@lili40seven
