Featured Store Artist Profile: Nikita Ares

Tell us about your background and how you ended up making art. You have previously talked about how you are inspired by your homeland, the Philippines. Can you dive a little deeper into what you are most drawn to?  

I’m inspired by the energy of the people in the Philippines—always happy, loud, and sunny—and its vibrant landscapes, like lush mountains and very clear waters. Moving to Seattle, with its gray skies and calm atmosphere, was a striking contrast. This difference made me reflect on my roots and express the bright, tropical energy and colorful palette of my hometown in my work, bridging the vibrancy of the Philippines with the serene tones of Seattle.  

The work currently displayed in the Store Alcove, The Traces of You, marks a shift in both style and direction from your previous pieces. What inspired this new approach, and do you see yourself continuing to explore this direction in future work?  

I’ve been exploring minimalism while maintaining a sense of maximal intention. This approach allows me to blend what I usually do with something new, which is exciting to see come together. Recently, I’ve been combining oil pastel and acrylic paint—a pairing that, for some reason, took me a while to realize works so well. I love the tactile experience of using oil pastels; the sticky texture and the way they leave marks on the surface create a more physical, hands-on connection with the piece. 

Your titles are so fun and eclectic, can you talk about your titling process and how they come to be?   

I paint with the intention of allowing viewers to create their own narratives or find a personal connection to the piece. I want my work to reflect universal stories, but the titles are my way of grounding the art in my own perspective and sharing the playful, humorous side of me. They’re also meant to bring a bit of lightness to the viewer’s experience. For instance, some of my favorite titles were Can I borrow your lighter?, All the places we’ve fucked, and Sativa Slut. It’s either some random sentence I’ve said that week or some sexual experience I’ve had. I always love seeing the audience’s reaction. 

What does a day in the studio look like? What gets you focused and in the mood to paint? Do you listen to anything that inspires you?    

I usually clean up the space if there’s anything I have left from the day before, because I get more focused when the space is fresh and clear. Then I play my go-to playlist, with songs that I can sing with to pump me up and get me all giddy and excited. Mostly songs from the late 2000s or the early 2010s like Ke$ha or the Arctic Monkeys. I bring my little pup Bantay with me and usually take him up for a walk in between paint sessions.   

We follow you on Instagram and you are busy! From works on canvas, large murals, to exclusive merchandise for the Seattle Kraken, you've been working on a multitude of projects. What's next for your practice? Is there a collaboration you’ve been dreaming about?   

Winter is usually when mural commissions slow down, so I’m using this time to dive into studio work and explore new styles for next year. I get bored easily, so I’m always shaking things up—it keeps things exciting for me!  

Working on the Seattle Kraken design was such a cool experience—it gave me a chance to discover and connect with a whole new community, the sports community, and see how it could blend with the art world. I’d love to collaborate with another group that pushes me to grow—maybe the music community next. That could be so much fun!