Meet Nikki Van Ekeren | Writer. Artist.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki Van Ekeren and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikki, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One of my favorite quotes is by the stoic philosopher, Seneca, who was rephrasing another stoic who came before him. He states, “’What progress have I made? I am beginning to be my own friend.’ That is progress indeed. Such a person will will never be alone, and you may be sure he is friend to all.”

The idea of being your own friend is simple, yet so profound. My work is rooted in this notion of celebrating yourself. It is an ongoing inner conversation that each of us gets to cultivate and refine. It takes work to understand the brevity of being your own unconditional friend. One must learn the art of letting go of external reassurance.

This quote continues to be my guiding light. I even have a part of it tattooed on my hand. I love how it is so powerful yet reads so soft and light.

As a writer, I try to formulate my work as simple as this short quote. Sometimes the most memorable things we read are brief and succinct. I enjoy the challenge of this pursuit in my poetry.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My goal is to empower my readers. Just as I have been inspired by books that I have read in the past, the transformational ability of a book excites me.

My work is evolving as I grow, but the through line has always been to elevate and inspire. I enjoy the format of poetry in that I can paint an emotional picture in just a few words.

To fuel my writing journey, I create art in different mediums and continually seek out ways to learn. Just as the philosophers and artists did in the past, we are capable of absorbing the work of others and alchemizing it into something new. I love to visit museums on a weekly basis and read as much as I can.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Flagstaff is one of my all time favorite cities. Going to college there really set the tone for my creative life. The city evokes a sensory experience with the majestic mountains, the scent of the ponderosa pines, the sound of the train buzzing by and the overall experience of living life at such a high elevation.

The Lowell Observatory is a great place to visit to take in the breathtaking views of the sky. I would also recommend strolling down San Fransisco Ave in downtown Flagstaff. There are some cute local shops and restaurants. I still remember the taste of the pizza at Alpine Pizza. Each time we go back to visit, a slice at Alpine is our first meal in Flagstaff.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I was a music performance major at Northern Arizona University, I took an art history class to fulfill credit requirements. This class changed the way that I saw the world. The fact that painting contained such meaningful content and one could take the time to assess it, write about it and feel it astounded me. At the time, I played the flute and always had focused on projecting the musicality of a piece. I loved this challenge, but felt a new calling toward art and writing. After this class, I changed my major and ventured into adulthood equipped with a knowledge of the arts, music and poetry.

My eyes were increasingly opened after reading books such as “The Essential Rumi,” “Letters To A Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke, and most recently books by the stoics such as “The Art of Living” by Epictetus. A writer that is generous and conveys messages from the heart can elevate their reader and bring courage into the world.

Website: nikkivanekeren.com

Instagram: @nikkivanekeren

Other: tik tok: @nikkivanekeren

Image Credits
Photos: Matt Van Ekeren