Nikita Ares

Nikita Ares (b. 1996, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines) is a Seattle-based visual artist whose work explores movement, energy, and the emotional landscape of the self through abstract painting and drawing. At 17, Ares immigrated to the United States and received her BFA from Cornish College of the Arts in 2018. Her practice is rooted in color, rhythm, and intuition, often blending organic shapes and layered textures to create expressive compositions that echo memory and consciousness. Her works span studio painting, public art, and community-centered workshops, including murals that enliven spaces with vibrant presence.

Ares has created outdoor murals across Washington and beyond, with commissions from Meta Open Arts, Seattle Kraken, the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and Bellwether. She has exhibited in Seattle-area venues such as SOIL Gallery, studio e Gallery, MadArt Studio, Columbia City Gallery, Mini Mart City Park, Seattle Design Festival, and the Bellevue Arts Museum. Her work has been featured in The Seattle Times, King County TV, The Seattle Spectator, The Stranger, and other local media outlets. As a queer Filipino immigrant, her identity informs a desire to connect across cultures and generations through art-making. She is currently working on projects that deepen her commitment to accessibility, play, and healing in creative spaces.