Niki Lopez is an award-winning Afro-Latina interdisciplinary visual artist, curator, and social practitioner using art as a catalyst for social change. Known for her vibrant color palette, masks, and avant-garde exhibitions, Lopez’s work explores trauma, healing, and empowerment. Her mixed-media reliefs incorporate masks and symbolic elements, reflecting her journey toward Afrocentric spirituality, self-discovery, and collective restoration.
As the founder of What’s Your Elephant™, a nonprofit that uses the arts to address unspoken issues such as discrimination, mental health, and abuse, Lopez fosters dialogue and promotes healing both personally and societally. She has been a passionate advocate for equity and social justice for over 12 years, working as a teaching artist with children with special needs, teens in juvenile detention centers, and underserved communities.
Lopez also serves on the Executive Board of Island City Stage, where she champions inclusivity and representation in the arts. Her dedication to the arts and activism has earned her multiple awards, including the 2020 Broward County Arts & Culture Visionaries Award and the 2024 Philanthropy Award from Our Fund Foundation.
Her work has been exhibited across South Florida, New York, and California, inviting audiences to confront societal norms and embark on their own journeys of healing and empowerment.
nikilopez.art | whatsyourelephant.org | Join my Patreon Community
Selected works on display at FAB!: Funding Arts Broward’s FAB Art Share Festival at Mad Arts Museum.
Proceeds from this event support FAB’s fundraising campaign, Be the SPARK!
Funding Arts Broward, Inc. (FAB!) is a non-profit arts organization committed to preserving and cultivating the arts in Broward County, Florida
Like the Phoenix, I AM
Mixed Media relief painting: acrylic paint, plaster, papier-mâché, gold leaf on canvas
48”x60”
This self-portrait reflects my journey of resilience—rising from the ashes of pain, trauma, and obstacles meant to hinder my growth. Through inner work and universal connection, I traverse spiritual portals, guided by the teachings of the Orisha Obba as taught by Ifawuyi Esuloju Eyioriwaase. The piece embodies the strength of transformation and the power of reclaiming one’s true self.
The Guardian II
Acrylic on plaster, cowrie shells, wood
6”x 12”x1”
The Guardian II is a powerful mixed-media sculpture symbolizing self-healing and introspection. The plaster face mask features tribal markings and a sacred spiral on the third eye, representing spiritual awareness and meditation. Cowrie shells encircle the mask, evoking their sacred role in Yoruba practices as a connection to ancestors and the divine. The piece embodies themes of inner reflection, spiritual connection, and self-love, inviting viewers to explore their own journeys of healing.
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