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Nieko McDaniel

I Wish I Was......

Acrylic, spray paint, cardboard

“'I Wish I Was…' is representative of a time that I have much nostalgia for but was not old enough to partake in. That time is from the 1960s–1990s, which was the golden era of graffiti, hip-hop & rap, and b-boying. This installation is an example of how I envisioned that era when I was a child. When I was young, I would see the remains of this culture and how it would slowly evolve over the next two decades. Supported by performance, this installation was an attempt to give me a feel of what it was like to be part of urban culture in its golden era."

— Nieko McDaniel

About the artist

Nieko McDaniel

Growing up in Southern California, Nieko McDaniel (b.1995) was influenced by graffiti, rap, and the desire for an urban lifestyle. McDaniel makes work about identity & world-building, which is under the umbrella of escapism and is seen in the type of entertainment the generation (Millennials) he grew up as part of prefer. Examples he gives are the genres of literature, music, movies, television, and games they consume. McDaniel believes reality is something we try to escape through simulation and invention. He comments on this idea by using materials that have an inherent history and function but re-purposes them to fit his vision.

In January of 2024, McDaniel’s solo exhibition “Patience… & However Possible” will open at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. He will also have an upcoming solo exhibition at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, in September of 2024.

Currently, McDaniel is working as a full-time lecturer of art & design for Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Image of artist