Tucked behind Fletcher High School about a quarter mile down Seagate Avenue resides a new mural along the walls of McKenzie’s Beaches Boys and Girls Club. An assortment of marvelous butterflies fills the empty space, the work of Miami-based artist Nico. Previously a resident of Jacksonville, Nico has already done extensive work with the Boys and Girls Clubs in Duval County, according to Wyatt Parlette, Vice President of programming for the organization.
The true beauty of the project is that everything is working in sync. I asked Nico about the butterflies she’s been working on. She told me it’s been a recurring theme in her art for years, as the creature is specifically symbolic in her life. When McKenzie’s took over the beaches location of the Boys and Girls Club they introduced the logo of a butterfly as well. Creator of the Kid’s Mural Project, Nico has been guiding students around Florida in their pursuits of artistic expression as well. Few & Far Women is the name of a global all-female street art group she is also part of, using their work to inspire other women artists.
Nico explained to me the impact art has had on her life and how it’s interested her since she was young. When she made the decision to pursue art as a career, it felt like a huge step in her evolution. Her story embodies the cornerstone of what the Boys and Girls Club is all about; evolving everyday and developing qualities of leadership and self-expression. Much like the evolving process of a butterfly, Nico is an inspiration for children in the area who are starting to spread their wings.
All Photos Credit: @_ariart
To learn more about Nico and her art, visit https://www.nicosuaveart.com/, or follow @nicosuavalicious on Instagram.
Visit https://www.bgcnf.org/ for information on how to give back to the children in the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida community.
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