Hey there, I’m Najee Strickland. I’m a multidisciplinary artist who loves to capture the unheard beauty of the PEOPLE.
Najee Strickland is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Memphis, TN and resides in Oakland, CA. Visual art and clothing design are Najee’s primary practices, also used as dominant instruments for expanding into various formats such as interdisciplinary events like cinema and fashion presentations, art installations, group workshops, lectures and creative directory. In his work he investigates the relationship between personal experiences, feelings, colour theory, anthropology, afrofuturism, history, unconscious thoughts, interpretations, and reality. Najee's work focuses on integral relationships that bring the focus back to building the collective community.
His latest project, “Blue Gold”, explores the complex issues of the fast fashion industry--its reliance on plastic and toxic chemicals, the impact of discarded clothing in places like Ghana, and the healing potential of 100% cotton on the human body. “This collection is a statement on sustainability, aiming to inspire awareness and change in the way we view and wear our clothes.”
"Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it".
- Nikki Giovanni
Najee started out drawing vibrant and colorful stick figures as a child. Rooted in his early fascination with cartoons and comic strips, his art and skills progressed significantly during his adolescent years. After receiving a few lessons from his parents and being influenced by various artists and mentors, Najee decided to pursue and advance his career in visual art, writing, and clothing design. Throughout his journey, Najee has teamed up with notable non-profit organizations such as Tone, ArtsMemphis, Oakland Art Murmur, Transmission Gallery, Off the Wall Arts, UrbanArt Commission, Arkwings Foundation, and Urban Art Commission for impactful community efforts that include workshops, murals, and art exhibit installations. His creative work has garnered attention and has been featured in magazines like Love Nu Art Magazine and ARTist Feature Magazine various digital magazines including TrapxArt, and newspapers such as the Memphis Flyer and The Commercial Appeal. With the invaluable support of ArtsMemphis’ Art Accelerator grant, as well as collaboration with HotKey Studios and Legends Press Comics, Najee was able to write, produce, and co-direct his own short film, which is an integral part of his Black Fist Series© alongside a graphic novel.