Meet Malik Levingston

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Malik Levingston. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Malik below.

Malik, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Honestly…..for me that’s always been a battle. I was raised by a great mom that taught me always to have confidence in myself. Not to look down on myself or wish I had what others had because it’s always someone in the world that’s worst off, so I should be grateful. And I carry that ideal to this day and even promote it to others. Learning to be myself and trust myself, ideas came with trial and error. So when I would paint on canvas, customize some shoes etc I had to trust my talent and that has got me to some amazing places. So now I teach people the same no matter if it’s art related or personal life everyone is unique but that uniqueness can be your biggest asset. Having that mindset in my confidence in turn did nothing but build my self esteem. Now I’m at a level of both where I’ve actively been putting myself out there radio interviews, pop-up shops, etc.

 

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

It’s 2024….Currently I’m in the mindset that I want to do everything I can. I’ve actually been customizing for almost 7-8 years now with a a break in the early years because I remember there was a time I wasn’t getting no sells no support and it made me wanna quit. Glad I didn’t tho. I’ve done everything from painting shoes, jackets, skateboards, roller skates, murals, canvases, body painting, purses etc. I have things that I want to do in the future like custom paint a car, have my own exhibition or introduction in a gallery open, mural work around Columbus. Many things I want to do. Right now tho I’m focused on pleasing clients and trying to create some fresh and new. Currently the projects that I’ll be releasing is a handpainted retro themed PS1 game system. I’m extremely excited to do so because as someone that grew up in that era with those games. Mostly everything I do I do sell so it will be available when announced and posted. I’m always looking to expand connections, collaborations with other creatives and brands but for now it’s just a day by day love of art. Hopefully some big projects in the future.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Trust. Originality. Failure. Honestly there’s plenty of qualities I can name but for me personally I’d have to say these three. Manly because it’s lots of times when I have original ideas themes, colors, etc and I had to trust myself and my talent and not think about it like “what if the internet doesn’t like it..”. And failing because everyone fails some of the most smartest engineers, business minds, artist, etc have failed and like myself I’ve failed plenty times wether it was art that I loved but others didn’t, missing opportunities, ideas I loved but didn’t turn out how I imagined the goal was always to step back and then move forward and learn from that failure. All the people that’s starting will go through the same things and yes it’ll be hard but you can’t give up. Hold these values close you can improve on them by moving forward it’s always ok to take breaks but let that passion you have be the light the moves you forward. Originally is just as important you can learn from others and have your inspirations but when you create or do something that you know only you have done or in a way that you’ve done from your style, mindset etc it means a lot more. Even the best people that copy others never last forever you always wanna be the trendsetter not just a trend.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

At this moment in time I’m definitely looking to collaborate. For me tho I definitely want to collaborate with stores, schools, teams, and artist that’s willing to puts the envelope with things. I’m a very versatile artist so I can collaborate with a school and do cleats or custom gear that would give all the kids/teens etc a sense of unity and uniqueness. I can collaborate with a model that’s always wanted to get into body paint and wants to bring visions they’ve had to life. Any fashion designers that would want to collaborate and make a set that’s an outfit and shoes with the handpainted bag etc the ideas are endless. If anyone does want to that can easily just follow me on any social media @Madebystvr and send me a message or email me to that will always be in my bios.

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