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S A L T U S M A G A Z I N E
Nahshon Hollis has plenty to say--so long as you can get him to speak to you. "People usually know me for
being quiet," he admits. "I probably speak more through my art than I do with my mouth. I think I live in my
mind a lot." But ask him to write down his thoughts--and out pours humour, philosophy, poignant insights on
people, politics and pop culture, not to mention incisive witticisms on the ironies of human behaviour. "I like
saying, `I dunno' a lot--it's even my yearbook quote. But when I write or paint, I have plenty to say."
No one who has marvelled over his prodigious artistic talent would disagree. Since the age of two when
he proclaimed he wanted to be "a famous artist," few have held any doubts he'd actually achieve his dream.
Nahshon, who got a top score of "5" on his Studio Art: Drawing AP last year, and is now taking AP 2D
Design, sold his first artwork for $1,000--when he was just nine. In 2008, the Masterworks Museum of
Bermuda Art, home to Homers and O'Keeffes, hosted a solo exhibition of his work; in the same year
he was showcased on Oprah Winfrey's website as "One of the World's Most Talented Kids." This
spring, he has been accepted into some of North America's top art schools and won the Visual
Arts category of the 2013 Outstanding Teen Awards.
"Art is a very powerful voice in the world, and I see no fault in using this power to try and
influence the path of where the world is headed," says Nahshon, who likes invoking social
themes in his work. "I feel there are too many problems in the world for my art to remain `silent.'
I want to be successful as an artist--but I want that success to come by my art being of value
to the world."
THE PRODIGY
Nahshon Hollis
FUN FACTS
Nickname: "Nation" or "Nationwide"
AP subjects: Studio Art: 2D Design, Studio Art:
Drawing, English Literature, English Language
Heading to: Maryland Institute College of Art, the
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, or the School
of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Career dream: Making a living as an artist
Listening to: Coldplay, the Beatles, Passion Pit,
Adele, Biggie, Bob Marley, Queen, Eminem, Lil
Wayne, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Kanye...
Pet peeves: Cockroaches, false conspiracy
theories, noise, pokey people
Book: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Little-known talent: Racing simulator video games
Weak spot for: Getting things perfect
Inspired by: Oil painter Bob Ross, Leonardo da
Vinci, Michelangelo, graphic artist Shepard Fairey,
Akiane Kramarik, Che Caines (Bermudian artist)
Couldn't live without: Paint, pencil, paintbrush,
paper, canvas, Coke, Cadbury, cheesecake,
PlayStation, chicken tikka masala, pizza delivery
Best Saltus memory: The School art trip to Rome.
I got to see the Sistine Chapel!
Words of wisdom: The greatest scientists are
always artists as well (Albert Einstein)