“My heritage colors who I am, and my art is pieces of who I am.” Niko was born here in PVD. As a young child of about 5 years old, he remembers visiting his relatives in the Dominican Republic. He recounted hearing the rain bounce off their corrugated roof. Niko grew up here in RI and attended Hope High, where he was told to study the masters. He remembers the sounds of relatives talking over music and the smells of coffee, rice, and beans from the kitchen as Niko learned his art, then found his own style.
His life experiences and the community have shaped who he is today. Graffiti, street art, advertisements, and visiting art museums had a considerable impact on him. It is what influenced him to pick up a brush and what sometimes leads him to say that his art could be a waste of time. You will not find Niko Tolentino hanging out with his friends debating some esoteric artistic theory. He draws, paints, and documents the process in videos on Instagram. He is who he is. There is no affected behavior; no huge mystique.
Niko also shared that his parents worked hard in traditional jobs. In their eyes, he believed, being an artist was not a “real” job. It was something you did when you came home from your real job or on the weekends. After all, they had mouths to feed and bills to pay. He remembers weekends when they played the piano and sang. It was not easy. Niko has inherited his parents’ work ethic. He now works hard himself as a mail carrier. But that is just one of the pieces of who he is.
Despite his very notable talent and love of color and art, he explained that he does not consider himself an “artist.” I do strongly beg to differ with him on these two points. His art is not a waste of time. Niko is quite a wonderful artist with a great eye for vivid color and perspective. He layers varied colors on the canvas, adding depth and form to the images. He works in many mediums, and was, coincidentally, the cover artist for last month’s Motif Fall Guide.
Niko has a great love and talent for gardening, his home, and his two daughters. He described to me how he transformed a small parcel of land in his yard in Cranston into an amazing garden. I believe it is his little peaceful corner of the planet where he goes to recharge. It is what we all crave; a place to call home! Niko recounted how he tried music and recording, thought he could immerse himself in both, and follow in the footsteps of his mom and dad. His love for painting, drawing, and gardening was greater.
His work reflects his great love for his daughters and his garden. The colors flow, creating movement and perspective on the canvas in a unique style all his own. One of his latest Instagram videos shows him creating a commissioned work for RI Latino Arts. At first, he sketches the outline of the painting. Wide red, orange, and yellow brushstrokes are highlighted with speckles of the same stain across the canvas in an easy progression. He paints unperturbed by the camera. His charcoal drawings are solid images of real faces. The strokes dance across the page — all pieces of him.
Another is an upcoming magazine cover. It is beautiful too. His visual art and palette reflect a garden bouquet of colors. The wide brushstrokes and impressionist swirls draw you into the painting and form the shadows. Blue, orange, yellow, and gold lure you in and enchant you. They are vivid, strong, and real like the artist. It makes me think of “Starry Night” on steroids. It is dreamlike.
Niko explained that he shares these videos on Instagram so other artists can see his progress step by step. This is how he gives back. Young artists can watch his videos, study his methods, and make them their own. Niko has the confidence and ease of a seasoned artist. There are no secrets, no assistants, and no outtakes, just Niko being Niko.
Another piece of him is his public art. He values access to art deeply because socioeconomic barriers can hinder a potential artist’s development. His Providence Place mural is found at the south-facing entrance. This work is a colorful, welcoming message highlighting Providence’s sites: the skyline, the State House, and the pedestrian bridge. It was painted in 2022. Niko has also painted murals for PVDFest. In 2022, he was invited by Alex “Savonara” Sok, a local artist, to help construct a large, stretched canvas panel and, along with “Eearplug,” another local artist, paint a mural. A second mural was created in 2023, when Angie “Agonza” invited him to take part in her mural battle. The four artists were each given an 8-by-8-foot panel and a limited time to create artwork for the audience to judge. Niko’s first utility box work was commissioned by the Cranston Arts Commission in 2023. It depicts his youngest daughter picking flowers. It is found on the corner of Cranston Street and Garfield Avenue. A second utility box work at 200 Midway Road is the post office where he works. This box depicts his oldest daughter with birds in flight.
On that warm summer afternoon, we sat on a bench as we talked at length about his art and his life. I believe Niko is a man who has found peace and contentment in his art and his life, even though he sometimes questions it. His paintings and works reflect the colors of the life he made for himself in his corner of the world. His life has compelled him to give back and encourage others. There are no pretensions. Niko is Niko.
Niko can be found on Instagram @nikotolentinoart.