Nika Urban shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Nika, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My dog. I spend a lot of time with her and she brings me the most joy in life. Aside from that, going outside and spending time in nature brings immense joy to me as well.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nika and I am a visual artist and tattooer. My work primarily focuses on darker themes and is usually without color. I’m inspired by fantastical themes, particularly in relation to the mind (nightmares/anxiety/melancholy/etc).
I grew up in a Polish household, and the folklore that my grandparents shared always filled me with fear, but somehow I was drawn to them at the same time. In a way, I think that’s kind of how I’d like my personal artwork to be interpreted. I’m not trying to deliberately create something “scary,” but rather just express what lives inside my head and hopefully it turns out beautiful and haunting in some way.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
That’s a great question. Well, luckily, I’ve always felt comfortable with being myself, even if that was vastly different from most people around me. It never bothered me. I never once felt that I had to “fit in” or live my life according to societal standards. I feel like I’ve always pretty much been the same person, the only thing that has really changed (aside from growing and maturing) is that I became a lot more outgoing, ever since moving from Michigan to Texas. I used to be extremely shy and withdrawn, and while I still get socially anxious (and prefer a lot of time alone), I’ve been enjoying this newer way of navigating life. But it has to come from within, and never what the world tells you.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I struggle with a lot of anxiety and have a melancholic mind by default, it’s just how I’ve always been. My anxiety has gotten better, but I don’t think it will ever truly be healed. The thing is, I don’t want to heal it entirely. I wouldn’t see the world the way I do without it, and I wouldn’t be able to create the kind of art that I do, without it. So I guess my wounds are necessary to live the creative life that I do… What a cliche artist story! Haha.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
I don’t claim this to be an absolute truth, but I’d say that it’s the idea of chasing happiness. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad thing to strive for. And I’m not saying to avoid it. But in my opinion, feeling a sense of wholeness, despite all of the pleasant and unpleasant emotions in life, is what matters more. I’ve learned that it’s actually best not to run away from the negative emotions, and rather to face them head on. They are more important because they make the good moments that much sweeter. Life is about balance. You need both light and dark.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
When I am outside in the woods (particularly on a cold, cloudy day), alone or with my dog. Nothing can bring me more peace than that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nikaurbanartwork.com
- Instagram: nikaurbanartwork
Image Credits
All my own photos
