Nikkolas Smith Overview
as an Artist and His Disney Cruise Line Contributions
Background Information
Nikkolas Smith is a Los Angeles-based "artivist" (artist-activist), concept artist, #1 New York Times bestselling children's book author/illustrator, and former Walt Disney Imagineer.
With a master’s in architecture from Hampton University, he spent 11 years at Disney Imagineering designing theme park elements worldwide, from New Fantasyland in Orlando to Shanghai Disneyland and Avengers Campus.
His digital paintings often semi-abstractly blend social justice themes with cultural celebration. Influenced by Nina Simone's call for artists to "reflect the times" and Norman Rockwell's storytelling, Smith's work has gone viral on social media, appeared in Times Square billboards, and inspired books like The 1619 Project: Born on the Water and movie posters for Black Panther and Soul. He left Imagineering in 2019 to focus on full-time illustration, emphasizing empowerment, equity, and Black joy.
Smith has created original artwork for all three Wish-class Disney Cruise Line ships: Disney Wish (debuted 2022), Disney Treasure (debuted December 2024), and Disney Destiny (debuted November 2025).
Each piece is a large-scale digital painting printed for onboard display, tying into the ship's thematic narrative while reflecting Smith's signature style of empowerment and diversity.
These commissions mark a full-circle return to Disney, where his art now sails with thousands of guests. Below, I detail each painting, its location, visual description, inspiration, and broader context.
"Cindys" on the Disney Wish
Title / subject: “Cindys.” It depicts many versions of princess-type figures helping one another climb out of darkness — visually echoing Cinderella’s “rise up” story.
Location and Description: This standout piece is displayed in the aft staircase between Decks 3 and 4, amid over 4,400 artworks on the ship. The large-scale digital print resembles an oil painting, depicting 10 ethereal versions of Cinderella emerging from shadowy depths, shimmering in diverse gowns as they climb a rocky outcrop and pull each other upward. The figures represent global cultural interpretations of the princess—varying skin tones, hairstyles, and attire—united in a luminous, supportive chain. It's a focal point for stairwell traffic, encouraging guests to pause and reflect.
The piece shows many different versions of “princess/women” — diverse in skin color, size, and background — helping one another up over a cliff or obstacle, climbing toward a castle in the distance.
The atmosphere is somewhat dark or cave-like in the lower part (representing struggle), with light upward toward hope / castle — reinforcing a motif of “rising up.”
Where aboard ship: Shown in public spaces/hallways (images show it hung above a stairwell/landing area on the Wish).
The painting is installed in the aft staircase between Decks 3 and 4.
It isn’t part of a big flashy display — more like a “hidden gem” in a less-trafficked staircase — so it’s easy to walk right past it if you’re not looking.
Inspiration and Themes: Created as a tribute to the Disney Wish's overarching "enchantment" theme, heavily inspired by Cinderella (1950), the painting reimagines the classic tale through an empowerment lens. Smith drew from the film's transformative gown moment and the ship's Grand Hall, which features a golden Cinderella statue and spiral chandelier echoing the Fairy Godmother's magic. He aimed to "show every woman has a Cinderella" by portraying the character across cultures and backgrounds, including nods to live-action portrayals like Brandy Norwood's in the 1997 TV film. Thematically, it's a "shoutout to every woman rising up after getting knocked down," celebrating unmatched female strength and solidarity. Smith has shared that the work honors resilience, making it especially poignant on a ship evoking fairy-tale rebirth.
Inspiration / meaning: Smith explicitly framed it as “every woman rising up after getting knocked down” — using the Cinderella story as metaphor for resilience and collective support between women. The darker, cave-like background and the linked figures are meant to show women lifting each other out.
“Cindys” as a tribute to “every woman rising up after getting knocked down” — a celebration of women helping each other and the strength and resilience of women collectively.
By representing “Cinderella-type” figures from many ethnicities, cultures, body types, Smith uses the Cinderella archetype to show that everyone — everywhere — can be Cinderella; that is, everyone deserves and can achieve a “happily ever after.”
Additional Context: Unveiled during the ship's christening voyage in July 2022, "Cindys" quickly became a fan favorite, highlighted in Disney's "Walking the Wish" art tour. Smith posted about it on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing its message of unity. As one of his early post-Imagineering Disney collaborations, it blends his activism—sparking conversations on representation—with Disney's magical storytelling. Guests often photograph it for its inspirational vibe, and it's part of the ship's broader Cinderella motifs, like bubble-inspired lounges and enchanted forest carpets.
What it means / inspiration
The artist, Nikkolas Smith, described “Cindys” as a tribute to “every woman rising up after getting knocked down” — a celebration of women helping each other and the strength and resilience of women collectively.
By representing “Cinderella-type” figures from many ethnicities, cultures, body types, Smith uses the Cinderella archetype to show that everyone — everywhere — can be Cinderella; that is, everyone deserves and can achieve a “happily ever after.”
Because the “Grand Hall” / atrium of the Wish is heavily themed around Cinderella (statue, chandelier shaped like her gown, etc.), this piece reinforces the broader theme of transformation, hope, and fairy-tale possibility aboard the ship.
Jasmine and the Bazaar artwork on the Disney Treasure
Title / subject: “Jasmine and the Bazaar.” The piece focuses on Jasmine (and market/bazaar scenes) — it reads as a warm, human portraiture-style tribute to Jasmine’s world rather than a literal film still.
Location and Description: Specific details on Smith's piece for the Disney Treasure are less publicly documented than the others, but it follows the pattern of his Wish-class contributions: a large mural or staircase artwork integrated into the ship's adventure-themed public spaces. The Treasure features over 4,000 artworks evoking global exploration and hidden wonders (inspired by films like Aladdin, Moana, and Pirates of the Caribbean), with Smith's likely placed in a high-traffic area like a grand staircase or atrium wall. Visually, expect his painterly style—vibrant, textured depictions of diverse figures on a journey of discovery, possibly incorporating treasure-hunt motifs with empowering narratives.
Where aboard ship: Installed in one of the Treasure’s stairwells / circulation areas (Smith’s social posts and ship-walk photos show it in a stairwell with multiple panels).
Inspiration and Themes: The Disney Treasure's theme of "adventure and escapism" aligns with Smith's ethos of art as a portal to imagined worlds. Drawing from his Imagineering roots (e.g., designing immersive park environments), the piece likely celebrates cultural diversity in exploration stories, reflecting his activism by portraying underrepresented heroes uncovering "treasures" of identity and heritage. Influences may include his book World Cup Women (2019), which honors global athletic trailblazers, or his Marvel work on empowered characters like Storm. Smith has described his process as "painting a world you want to see," so this could envision inclusive adventures, tying into ship venues like the Haunted Mansion Parlor bar or Plaza de Coco dining.
Inspiration / meaning: Smith called it a tribute — his approach often centers on humanizing characters and communities, emphasizing warm light, expressive faces, and cultural textures (the “bazaar” feel). The piece uses his painterly, portrait-forward style to celebrate Jasmine and her world.
The style matches his signature — expressive, painterly portraiture with warm light and rich color, giving the classic character a more humanized, story-based reinterpretation.
Additional Context: Debuting in late 2024, the Treasure builds on the Wish's art-heavy design, with Smith's contribution part of a curated collection by former Imagineers. While exact visuals aren't widely shared yet (possibly due to the ship's recent launch), it's confirmed as his third in the series via cross-references to his Destiny work. Fans anticipate it sparking similar discussions on representation, much like "Cindys." For more, Smith's website (nikkolas.art) or X (@4nikkolas) may feature updates, as he often shares behind-the-scenes sketches.
The name suggests a fusion of Jasmine’s world (from the film Aladdin) with a “bazaar / marketplace” vibe — likely evoking the richness, culture, and sense of adventure tied to that world. Smith’s use of soft painterly style likely aims to bring warmth, humanity, and cultural texture to a familiar character in a fresh way.
As part of the overall design of Disney Treasure (which is built around an “adventure/palace at sea / Agrabah” aesthetic), this mural helps reinforce the ship’s immersive storytelling, beyond just the main statue and grand-hall decor.
King Chad Black Panther Mural on the Disney Destiny
Location and Description: This vibrant mural graces a prominent wall in the ship's hero-and-villain themed atrium or hallway, near other Marvel-inspired elements. It features dynamic, larger-than-life portraits of Black Panther characters—likely T'Challa, Shuri, and the Dora Milaje—in Smith's semi-abstract style: bold colors, textured strokes, and symbolic motifs like glowing vibranium patterns or Wakandan landscapes. The composition pulses with energy, showing heroes in action poses that evoke unity and power, integrated with the ship's metallic, fantastical decor.
Inspiration and Themes: The Disney Destiny's "heroes vs. villains" narrative (drawing from The Lion King, Hercules, Moana, and Marvel films) perfectly suits Smith's Marvel expertise—he illustrated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – The Courage to Dream (2022) and concept art for the films. The mural honors Black excellence and legacy, inspired by Chadwick Boseman's portrayal and Smith's own "King Chad" tribute (a 2020 viral mural of Boseman saluting a child). It reflects his artivism roots, using Wakanda as a metaphor for ancestral strength and resistance against "villains" like colonialism or injustice. Smith ties it to the ship's journey motif: the Destiny "joining the fleet" amid Pride Rock vistas and Maleficent thorns, symbolizing heroes rising. In interviews, he notes drawing from real-world activists, blending Disney fantasy with social reflection.
“For Wakanda” — Disney Destiny
Title / subject: “For Wakanda.” A Black Panther / Wakanda-themed mural that honors the film franchise and its cultural impact.
Where aboard ship: Part of the Destiny’s art program (coverage and photos from ship tours list it among the “Heroes Art” / themed areas where Marvel and Black Panther references appear).
Inspiration / meaning: The piece continues Smith’s practice of tributes to Black cultural icons (Smith’s earlier “King Chad” mural honoring Chadwick is a direct antecedent). He blends superhero iconography with emotional portraiture — celebrating character, community, and legacy.
Additional Context: Launched in November 2025, the Destiny debuted the mural during media previews, where Smith discussed its creation in onboard chats (e.g., a K92.3 radio segment). It's his third Disney Cruise Line piece, completing a thematic trilogy across the Wish-class fleet. The mural complements experiences like the Pride Lands Lion King dinner show and Marvel-themed youth areas. Smith's Marvel ties (e.g., 2023–2024 Target apparel line) amplify its impact, inspiring young fans toward heroism and equity. He views these commissions as "superpowers" for change, echoing his viral portraits of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.
Smith's trilogy transforms ship corridors into spaces for reflection, making his art a "love letter" to Disney's magic while challenging guests to see diverse stories. For prints or sketches, check nikkolas.com; his X account often teases new works. If you're sailing, seek them out—they're hidden gems amid the voyages!
Nice — Nikkolas Smith has become one of the more visible contemporary artists on Disney Cruise Line. Below I pulled together everything verifiable about the three murals you mentioned — title, where they appear, what inspired them, and a little about Smith’s approach and background. I cite the most relevant sources after each section.
Quick summary
“Cindys” — on Disney Wish. A print/digital painting of multiple princesses helping one another; a tribute to the strength and resilience of women. “Cindys” in particular aligns with themes of inclusion, diversity, and empowerment — which can resonate well if you want to highlight how DCL is evolving beyond classic Disney.
“Jasmine and the Bazaar” — on Disney Treasure. A triptych-style mural (stairwell installation) inspired by Aladdin’s Jasmine and market/bazaar imagery; Smith described it as a tribute. “Jasmine and the Bazaar” adds a fresh cultural/visual layer to the “Agrabah/palace” theming of Disney Treasure — a good opportunity if you want to talk about how DCL integrates different Disney stories with new artistic interpretations.
“For Wakanda” — on Disney Destiny. A Black Panther / Wakanda themed mural (a tribute that echoes Smith’s earlier “King Chad” work honoring Chadwick Boseman).
About Nikkolas Smith — style & context
Background: Smith is an LA-based artist/illustrator and former Walt Disney Imagineer. He’s known as an “artivist” who produces digital paintings that combine portraiture, social-justice themes, and pop-cultural tributes.
Artistic approach: predominantly digital painting (iPad + Photoshop), with a painterly, expressive brushwork look. He often centers Black subjects and communities, uses strong emotional lighting, and creates work intended to tell stories about resilience and dignity. On the Disney ship pieces he adapts Disney characters and stories to his human-focused portraiture style.
These paintings are not just decorative — they’re integral parts of the storytelling and theming aboard the ships and knowing where to find them (stairwells, not main atriums) makes them perfect “hidden-detail”.