About Nikki Williams
Nikki Williams sees herself as a Multi-Language Artist. She speaks fluent Visual Art with the various dialects of photography, graphic design, painting, and crafting; Literature with diverse dialects of playwriting, poetry, and prose; Theater using the dialect of Director, Performance Artist, and Actor. Williams is also an accomplished Producer having created and produced programs in Arts Education to programs and festivals celebrating the accomplishments and achievements of Artists of Color. In recognition of her multi=languages, Williams has been called a “Renaissance Woman.”
Williams has the honor of being an Award-Winning photographer and poet. Williams’ professional career spans over thirty-five years. Since 1990, Williams’ organization, Spirit in Sunset Productions has produced events and programs that celebrate and support the endeavors of Artists of Color. Her live, weekly radio show “ArtBeat of Harlem,” broadcast from City College in 1990 made Williams the first Black Woman to conceive and produce an ongoing, weekly arts program for WHCR 90.3 FM, Harlem Community Radio. In her role as a Media Pioneer, Williams had the sincere privilege and honor to meet and interview, many of the Great Pioneers of Color in the Arts Industry. Unfortunately, many are now deceased.
Williams prides herself on honoring her Pioneer Spirit and creating as well as being part of first-time programs and events. In March of 2024, Williams had the honor of being Artist of the Month in a new online feature sponsored and curated by Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. In 2019, Williams approached then the Executive Director, Mr. Charles Shorter of Ryan Health Adair and Frederick Douglass, with the idea of becoming Ryan Health’s first Artist in Residence. She held that position from 2020 to 2024. Williams’ artwork was on display at both Ryan Health’s Harlem locations – inside the clinics and on display outside the window of Ryan Health Frederick Douglass.
Williams has had her work on display at other business locations. She was the first artist to have a solo showing of her work inside Blick Art Materials. A selection of her photographs celebrating the 50th anniversary of the African American Day was on display in September 2019. Selections from Williams’ body of work celebrating Black Women in the Arts, “And a PraiseSong Shall Rise Over A cappella Skies,” was part of Blick Harlem’s “12 Art Beats” exhibition series. From July until September 2022, Williams’ artwork “B.Y.O.J.” – Bring Your Own Joy! was given a special showing at Blick’s Harlem location, making Williams the first Artist to have her work shown on three occasions.
Williams has exhibited solo shows of her artwork for over thirty years. Her work has been displayed on college campuses, Universities, art galleries, libraries, cultural centers. A piece from Williams Other artwork from Williams’ collection celebrating the Imagination, “I Would not Have Seen It, If I Hadn’t Believed It,” was featured alongside nine other brilliant visual artists in a group exhibition produced and sponsored by Harlem Grown. In 2023, the artwork was on display at Ryan Health and at the window of Blick Art Materials. “I Would not Have Seen It, If I Hadn’t Believed It,” was featured alongside nine other brilliant visual artists in a group exhibition produced and sponsored by Harlem Grown.as well as in non-traditional spaces. at Blick Art Materials on three separate occasions. In 2021, Williams opened the Fall Season with a retrospective of her body of work, “Beautiful, Also, are the Souls of My People,” at the Children’s Carnival.
Williams is the author of several coffee table books that include her artwork, poetry, and prose. “B.Y.O.J.” - Bring Your Ow Joy” published in 2022, “Beautiful, Also, are the Souls of My People,” “Dreams Dipped in the Color of Sky” both published in 2021, “Treble the Waded Waters,” published in 2020, and “I Am: How Beautiful!” a photo collage and poetry celebrating the Resilient Beauty of Black Men and Boys published in 2023. Williams is currently working on her latest book that will include her latest collection of artwork and poetry that celebrates Soul Music. Williams is also the author of several collections of poetry. Her first book “Brown Women Who Fly,” is part of the New York Public Library’s book collection. The book celebrating the lives of Black Women in the 1990’s was turned into a theatrical production. The play toured from 1993 to 1998 ending its tour at the famed Henry Street Settlement in Lower Eastside of Manhattan. First presented at the Henry Street Settlement in 1995, the play was nominated to be included in the Black Theater Touring Festival. “Brown Women Who Fly,” was also presented at Henry Street Settlement in 1997 and 1998.
In August of 2023, Williams produced a series of literary events entitled, “This Summer Harlem is LiT.” The programs were in celebration of Black Writers and consisted of poetry readings and literary performances in Harlem. “This Summer Harlem is LiT” also paid tribute to the poem “Ego Tripping,” written by the recently deceased, Legendary and Iconic Poet, Writer, and Scholar, Ms. Nikki Giovanni. The first event of the literary festival, “A Woman of Her Word,” was held at EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care in Harlem. The second program of the series, “Black Love Along Lenox” – A Lyrical Love/Song Lining the Streets of Lenox, was held at ARC A. Philip Randolph Senior Center in Harlem. Journalists, Poets, Authors, Actors, Performance Artists, and Vocalists shared an evening that celebrated Black Love and Culture. Representatives from Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine’s Office and Councilmember Kristen Richardson Jordan’s Office, spoke and performed. The festival finale was held at the Interchurch Center in Harlem. The program entitled, “Ah, Sookie Sookie, Now!” was a “Sookie-a-thon,” - a literary program of Self-Praise presented in poetry, prose, dance, movement, visual art, and song. The Literary Festival was sponsored by Poets & Writers, Inc. Williams received Proclamations for her efforts from the Offices of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, State Senator Cordell Cleare, Ms. Nina Norwood, then Deputy District Director from Congressman Adriano Espaillat, former Council Member Kristen Jordanson’s, Borough President Marks Levine and Assembly Member Al Taylor. Williams received her first Proclamation and Citation from elected officials for her commitment to honoring those working as Artists in 1991. That year Williams celebrated the first year of her radio show,and produced her first celebration of Artists of Color through live performance, “Libations in Dark Voice.” Then representatives of Congressman Charles B. Rangel and Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger spoke and presented Williams with awards of recognition.
In 1997 and 1998, Williams produced the first festival in Harlem that paid tribute to Black Women in the Arts. The festival held in the summer months was held at various locations in Harlem. venues including the Schomburg, the Harlem State Office Building, Sisters Uptown Bookstore and Riverbank State Park, hosted poetry readings, and performances presented by Black Women Artists. Williams’ first play, “Brown Women Who Fly,” was part of the festival. An excerpt from the play and book was shared on the radio show, “Isaac Hayes and Friends,” on KISS FM radio.
In 2010 and 2014, Williams produced respectively, two events for which she has become known for producing her special brand of Literary Marathons. In 2010, Williams’ first Literary Marathon was entitled “Living, Laughing, Loving Langston,” a three-hour “Langstonathon,” highlighting the talents of Artists of Color as they presented the full published poetry of Mfr. Langston Hughes. In April and August of 2014, Williams produced a “Mayathon,” with back-to-back marathon performances and readings of the entire published collection of Dr. Maya Angelou. Over thirty-seven Artists of Color representing all artistic genres took part in each event. Williams received Proclamations and Citations for her work in honoring Artists of Color at both events. Present at the events were Congressman Charles Rangel, Council Member Inez Dickens, and a member from Assembly Member Keith L.T. Wright’s office. Dr. Maya Angelou passed away in April 2014, a week or so, after the first Mayathon.
In the summer of 2021, Williams produced the first photoshoot that celebrated Women Artists of Color over the age of fifty. “Mama Movers/Sistah Shakers,” - A Celebration of World Dreamin’ Wimmin, saw over thirty-five Women Artists specializing in the creative fields of film, photography, literature, visual art, dancers, musicians, journalism, crafts, etc., photographed at a beautiful setting in front of the water at Riverbank State Park. A tribute to the women was held inside of the Cultural Center where Ms. Lisa Gold of the Asian Arts Alliance, former Executive Director of the Langston Hughes Library and Cultural Center, Mr. Andrew Jackson (aka Brother Sekou Molefi), Ms. Ann Tripp, News Director of Inner-City Broadcasting WNLS Radio and Ms. Mynah Whyte, then Community Liaison of Assembly Member Al Taylor, spoke of the vital contributions of Women Artists of Color who have worked on their craft for decades. The oldest participant of the photoshoot was 90 years old at the time. State Senator Robert Jackson, Assembly Member Al Taylor, Council Member Inez Dickens, and Congressman Adriano Espaillat acknowledged the contributions of the women artists in their Proclamations and Citations.
Williams continues her commitment to her love for the Arts in Education. Since 1989, she has worked with many Arts Organization as an Artist in Residence, presenting her literary, theatrical, and visual arts programs in Public Schools and Community Centers. Williams has also presented her programs through her organization Spirit in Sunset Productions in Colleges and Universities, Libraries, Museums, Senior Citizen Centers, Art Galleries, and City Parks. Williams considers her proudest moments as an Educator presenting a Creative Writing Workshop to Survivors of domestic violence. Williams received funding from Poets & Writers, Inc., and the Bronx Council on the Arts where she brought her literary programs to Women staying in domestic violence and homeless shelters. Williams edited several volumes of the poetry and prose that the Women wrote while taking part in the Creative Writing Workshops.
In 2006, Williams created a theatrical piece, “Expanding Wing…Stretching Space – Creating Room ‘tween a Rock and Hard Place.” The production, performed conceived and directed by Williams, was performed by Professional Actors, Dancers, and Singers. The production incorporated some of the Poetry and Prose written by the Women Survivors of domestic violence, (the Women’s personal information omitted for their protection), along with Dance, Gospel Songs, and Narration written by Williams. It was presented on College Campuses and Universities during Women’s History Month and in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. An article about Williams’ work in domestic violence shelters was featured in Poets & Writers literary magazine. Williams work presenting Memoir Writing Workshops to African American Senior Citizens, was also featured in Poets & Writers online magazine.
Williams is currently celebrating the musical genius of Mr. Stevie Wonder in 2025 with a new body of art and literature entitled, “Harlem LiT in Wonder,” and “Soul Look Back in Wonder.” As part of the celebration, Williams designed and conducted creative writing workshops “Pass the P’s” – Poetry, Prose, and Performance Celebrating 1960’s and 1970’s Soul Music. The event also includes narratives from Williams’ Artist Colleagues of how the music impacted their lives. The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, the Brooklyn Public Library and NYC Parks, hosted the first series of workshops celebrating Soul Music in 2024. reflections on the influence of Mr. Wonder’s work. Included in this new body of artwork is Williams’ collection entitled, ““Spreadin’ Jam, Joy & Jive: A Sweet R&B Journey on the Souls of my 45’stm.” The artwork is a large series of photographs in collage that celebrate the Soul Music found on 45 records in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
The artwork had its inaugural showing at the National Jazz Museum of Harlem. An event entitled, “A Soul/a/thon Celebration of 45’s” or 45’s Record Day was held in September 2024 at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park. The Creative Community and selected others took part in a photoshoot, each holding a 45 record. A Marathon Soul/a/thon through verse and poetry was presented celebrating the Joy and Jive found on 45 records. State Senator Cordell Cleare was the guest speaker at the event. Williams’ organization received proclamations from Senator Cleare’s office as well as a citation from the office of Mayor Eric Adams.
Williams continues to give all Praise to God for her continued Blessings.
