Nick Black’s art has captured the heart and allure and the Hawaiian Islands for years both in the textile and fine art worlds. Nick’s art became widely popularized in the surfing and Hawaiian lifestyle niches of the early 80’s. Internationally acclaimed artist and critic Jean Charlot tipped his hat to Nick’s work in a review of a 1986 show sponsored by Hawaii’s East West Center:

“A distinctly Hawaiian t-shirt industry has emerged…but that industry displayed little or no interest in good art until Nicholas Black began a career that has so far proved successfully both artistically and commercially. His example should inspire other companies to commission art works from the mainly local artists who do interesting work in the field.”

After attending the University of Hawaii and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Nick went to work in the t-shirt industry as an in-house artist for one of Hawaii’s major clothing manufacturers of the time, Sun Fashions resort apparel. Nicky’s Hawaiian motifs featured fishing, canoeing, surfing, locations, Hawaiian lore, and detailed line drawings, perfect for the burgeoning aloha shirt market of the era. While working with Sun Fashions, Nick collaborated on Hawaiian Style, which would become one of the most successful brands in the history of the surf apparel industry.

Nick Black experienced a wide range of success as an independent commercial artist throughout the late 1980’s and early 90’s doing commissioned projects for RonJon’s, Crazy Shirts, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, as well as corporate logos for clients including the Hawaiian Style and the Honolulu Marathon.

Returning to acquire his MFA in fine arts from the University of Hawaii in 1996, Nick produced Waikiki Babylon, a series of intaglio etchings that served as a social commentary of the culturally bankrupt Waikiki of the era. The moody monochromatic prints are almost void of color like black and white photographs evoking nostalgia for innocence lost.