FlyKickz shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
FlyKickz, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
How I mentally start my day has always been very important to me, I believe it sets the tone for everything else to follow. When I first wake up, I like to acknowledge what I’m grateful for even before I step out of the bed. Soon after around 5:30am, I’m getting ready to head outside and do my morning 3 miles; I usually do my miles 4-5x a week. My morning miles allows me the opportunity to organize my thoughts and prepare for day; more importantly just start the day off nice and chill. This is my time to slow down before getting into the hustle of things. I often follow my miles with a little reading, journaling and reviewing my to do list.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dez the owner, artist and creative mind behind FlyKickz. I specialize in a very unique style of art that has rarely been seen or done before using upcycled sneakers to create art on canvas. Having created and sold hundreds of canvases not only the U.S. but in Germany, Ghana and Switzerland, I’ve become known not only for great, quality work but for utilizing my platform to fund community related endeavors.
Since Oct 2018, FlyKickz has raised over $35,000 via crowdfunding and awarded grants. With this funding FlyKickz has launched several giveback projects to feed and support those in need within the community. Additionally, since 2023, FlyKickz has funded and curated two community art show experiences highlighting over 50 visual artists and small businesses, an art show fundraiser donating all of the proceeds to a fellow artist diagnosed with cancer and hosted two all-expense paid sneaker art workshops for over 40 youth.
Currently, I am preparing for my 1st solo exhibition is a gallery titled “Depths of My Sole.” This exhibition will take place in the Main Gallery of Artworks in Trenton, NJ my hometown. This exhibition will feature a vibrant collection of over twenty-five never before seen canvases constructed entirely out of leather, laces and materials of actual sneakers.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my parents has truly shaped who I am and the artist and woman I am becoming. They have seen me endure challenges that many had no idea I was experiencing. They have seen me pick up the broken pieces of who I was due to the situations I endured and become an even more beautiful version of who I once was; they remind me of how resilient I really am. My parents have always made me feel safe, secure and provided for and through them I have learned what it means to work hard and keep pushing even when you want to give up. Their guidance and words of affirmations are a constant reminder that I am an incredible woman and worthy of all the blessings that come my way.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
It’s OK to just be a young and explore life. There’s no need to be in such a rush to grow up and have it all figured out.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say Family, Art and giving back to the community really matter most to me. Being able to do what I love and share it with who I love is my purpose in life. Using my creativity to help others and make an impact is what motivates me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will talk about how hard I worked to make my vision come to life, how passionate I was about my art, giving back to the youth and helping those in need and how I never gave up even when faced with adversity. I hope they say she wasn’t perfect, but she was perfectly flawed and that’s what made her so special. I hope they will speak of my kindness, integrity and authenticity. More importantly, I hope they will say she did something with art and sneakers that had never been done before and turned it into something amazing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iamflykickz.com
- Instagram: @FlyKickz
- Youtube: https://Youtube.com/iamflykickz
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