Check Out Malachi Wright’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Malachi Wright.

Hi Malachi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Dixmoor, Illinois, a modest village just outside Chicago. Growing up in a community where art wasn’t a primary focus, I found inspiration within my creatively inclined family, surrounded by imaginative souls. My artistic journey began early, collaborating with my brother to recreate captivating images from movies, the internet, and any other sources that sparked our creativity.

By fifth grade, I had established my own art business, captivating classmates and even teachers with my creations. As I progressed through school, my business flourished, expanding to a diverse, global clientele by middle school. To my astonishment, in eighth grade, renowned rapper Young Thug approached me, seeking permission to use one of my artworks as a single cover.

High school marked a significant turning point in my artistic pursuits. I launched an online art store, offering a wide array of prints, hoodies, and t-shirts to a growing fan base. During my junior year, fate intervened when my work caught the attention of Steve Harvey, who invited me to appear on his television show. Traveling to Los Angeles, I had the unforgettable opportunity to meet both Steve Harvey and the iconic Martin Lawrence.

It wasn’t long before another influential figure recognized my talent. The legendary Snoop Dogg personally commissioned me to design the album cover for his 2019 project, ‘I Wanna Thank Me.’ Determined to solidify my presence in the art world, I officially established my LLC that same year, cementing my status as a professional artist.

After graduating high school, my artistic journey led me to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Throughout my college years, I continued to thrive, selling artwork to esteemed individuals like Chance the Rapper and collaborating with renowned brands such as Lenovo, Essentia, and ESPN. My entrepreneurial efforts enabled me to pay for my college tuition out of pocket. Graduating in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Design & Media Arts, I continue to explore ways to balance family, business, and health.

Guided by faith, a love for my craft, and an unwavering passion, I remain a motivated and ambitious artist, continually seeking new horizons. As the future unfolds, the sky serves as the only limit, and my journey promises an ever-expanding trajectory of growth, success, and love.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing up in a poverty-stricken community with limited resources, I could easily say I’ve faced an abundance of obstacles and challenges. However, the love in my household was so abundant that I didn’t feel the weight of the struggles my parents carried just to make sure my siblings and I had food on the table every night. They made it their mission to ensure our happiness and provide for us, even when it was difficult. It wasn’t until I grew older that I truly grasped the depth of my family’s financial challenges. While it’s been a constant struggle, it has also strengthened our bond and brought us closer to the things that truly matter in life.
This past month, I lost my father to a heart attack. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever faced, and I’m still processing the loss daily. However, this experience has forced me to stop, reflect, and gain clarity—not just on my moments with my dad, but on my life as a whole. My father, alongside my mother, was my biggest motivator. They worked as a true team to lift me up, and I plan to lift up my parents and honor my father’s legacy with my siblings, ensuring that we continue the values and love he instilled in us.
I challenge anyone going through a similar hardship not to ask “Why me?” but instead, to pray for a greater understanding of how to navigate life, hoping that we may one day be reunited with those we love. Every day presents its challenges, but with love, patience, and peace, I will make it through.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an artist from a small village outside of Chicago, my work is deeply influenced by my environment and the people who have shaped my life. Growing up in a creatively rich household, I was immersed in art and reminded of its importance from a young age. My mom and older brother were my first teachers, and we would spend hours drawing together, pausing TV shows and videos to recreate the images on paper. This collaborative process, where “iron sharpens iron,” became the foundation of my artistic practice. It was through these early experiences that I discovered my passion for creativity. The seeds of my visual language were sown.

Creating art is about tapping into a childlike state of wonder and imagination while also engaging with complex, contemporary themes, such as Black culture and history, comedy, childhood and racism. I balance spontaneity and intentionality; I aim to bring the viewer into a familiar yet unfamiliar space, merging the deeply personal with the universally shared. My work often portrays Black people in joyful, everyday settings– creating a sense of calm and ease that isn’t often depicted in popular culture. These scenes are intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia and familiarity, inviting the viewer to reflect on simpler times and shared moments.

In terms of artistic strategy, I push myself to explore new ways of bringing people and settings together in unexpected contexts. Each composition–leaning into both reality and imagination–is carefully constructed, with an emphasis on color, contrast, and texture to create visual harmony. While my work is rooted in realism, I embrace stylization and abstraction, often playing with proportions, patterns, histories, and elements from my environment to create a dynamic, sometimes surreal, composition. Through these techniques, I challenge both myself and the viewer to reconsider how we perceive Black culture and society and to interact with the world around us.

My work is influenced by broader art historical and cultural movements, particularly within the context of Black experiences. I draw inspiration from the works of artists, such as Ernie Barnes, Kevin Wak, and Kadir Nelson–each using their art to affirm Black identity, to celebrate cultural heritage, and to explore complicated social issues. Like them, I create my own visual language that reflects the richness and diversity of Black life, while also contributing to larger conversations about representation, repression and reclaimed visibility in contemporary art.

As a Black artist, I offer visual spaces where viewers can transcend everyday routines and realities and be reminded of the richness of experiences that are (or are not) their own.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I strive to embody a blend of essential qualities that shape my character and interactions with others. Humility is at the core of who I am, and much of that comes from the example my dad set for me. He was a constant reminder of the importance of staying humble, not just through his words but through his actions. He lived with such grace and kindness, always putting others before himself, and his quiet strength served as a light for me. My dad didn’t just remind me to stay humble; he showed me how to do it every day, never seeking praise or recognition, but always doing what was right and just. Kindness and grace flow naturally from this perspective, allowing me to treat others with warmth and empathy, regardless of the circumstances. I am committed to maintaining a positive outlook, even in challenging times, trusting that faith will always guide me through. Creativity fuels my approach to life, helping me find innovative solutions and expressing myself authentically. As a beacon of light, I aim to inspire and uplift others, being a role model through my actions and choices. I hold myself to a high standard of righteousness, always striving to do what is right, not just for myself, but for the well-being of those around me. Through all of these qualities, I hope to lead by example and be a source of strength and encouragement for others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thewrightart.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_wright_artist/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWrightArts/
• Twitter: https://x.com/thewrightar?s=21

Image Credits
Paul Elliot – @araki_img

Briajah Payton – @briajahchanel

Omar Maliksalah – @Omarmaliksalah