Dak

Dak is an 18-year-old artist whose work was first featured in the Gallery’s Letchworth Open Exhibition 2024. Through his vibrant cartoon-style artwork, Dak is dedicated to spreading positivity and inspiring happiness, with the powerful message of “Remember to Smile” being at the forefront of his work.

What inspires you?

A lot of my inspiration comes from music. My religion is probably the most important thing in my life, but music is definitely up there too. I’ll listen to a song and it’ll evoke a certain feeling, and that inspiration flows into my art like brainwaves.

What kind of music inspires you?

Right now, I listen to a lot of Christian music. But I also love artists like ericdoa, midwxst, and beabadoobee — their music really helps me get into the zone. Honestly, I’m into pretty much everything. Hyperpop, though, is one of my favourites. That upbeat energy really gets my ideas flowing and gets me ready to create. I also find inspiration in video games. I love using references from a character I’ve seen in a game, and just getting references from other areas in general, from my friends to something I’ve come across on the street.

What are some of the ideas behind your art?

My art is pretty simple, but there’s a lot of meaning behind it. I’ve always struggled with my identity and figuring out who I am and my purpose in life. The character I’ve created is sort of based on me. At one point, I had locs hanging in front of my face and, for a long time, I would hide behind them because I wasn’t really at the best point in my life. So, I made this character with a big smile and came up with the brand name ‘Remember to Smile’ (RTS) because I’ve always felt like I need to remember to be positive despite hard times. It’s a way to reflect on that time in my life and promote positivity moving forward. That’s why I love what I do—there’s purpose and meaning behind it.

What’s your artistic process like?

I used Picsart for about two years, and then around six months ago I switched to ibisPaint. My friends say I have a weird process. I’ll start with line art by using a stylus on a tablet, then I’ll colour and refine it until I’m happy with the result. They think it’s a strange method, but I guess everyone has their own way of working. Art is subjective, after all.

Does what other people think of your art matter to you?

I want to get better as an artist, so constructive feedback is important to me. I’m pretty thick-skinned, so I like knowing what people think, whether it’s good or bad. I think constructive criticism within the art community can be really helpful and collaborative.

How would you like your art to develop?

I really want to build my brand and start putting my artwork on different surfaces—clothing, skateboards, you name it—making custom-painted pieces. I want to keep developing my brand and make a name for myself, maybe even developing work in other countries too, like Jamaica – where I’m from – or France or Japan. I have so many ideas for reimagining my designs in new ways, but it’s all about continuing to spread positivity, happiness, and giving glory to Jesus through my work.

What is your relationship with The Broadway Gallery?

I first visited The Broadway Gallery on a school trip and, after that, I had the chance to have my work featured in the Open exhibition. It’s great to be surrounded by a community that’s pushing you forward. It’s a different vibe from the online creative community I’m part of. In a physical space, you can connect with people more deeply and it just feels more genuine.

How do you define success as an artist?

To me, success is about how much my message comes through in my work. I want people to feel like, even if they’re going through tough times and feeling like they don’t want to be here, things will get better. Just hang in there. My idea of success is spreading a positive message through my art and inspiring others to stay hopeful, find happiness, and to remember Jesus loves you.

Dak’s work will be displayed in The Broadway Gallery from Saturday 5 April – Saturday 3 May 2025