Mikono Tisa Featured in Artist Close‑Up Magazine

I’m excited to share that my artist interview ran in the May 16, 2025 edition of Artist Close‑Up, a respected international art platform now reaching over 10,000 readers per week through its magazine and blog covering emerging talent across the globe.

🧭 What the Interview Covers

Artist Background:
I grew up in Maryland, studied art until switching to business, then spent years in graphic design and marketing. At 46, I reached a crossroads and felt called back to art. 

The Meaning of Mikono Tisa:
I reveal that Mikono Tisa—Swahili for “Nine Hands”—is my philosophy of multi-faceted creative intention. It reflects how I mine my thoughts and surroundings to find orientation in life and art.

Artistic Approach:
My work is intentionally “abstract, textured, layered, vibrant, and painterly,” created as a mirror for inner reflection and emotional resonance.

Themes and Message:
I explore contradictions and polarities—friction vs pleasure, money vs value—abstracting life’s paradoxes into forms that spark conversation and contemplation. 

Creativity & Digital Transition:
While early works were analog, today I work almost exclusively digitally, reclaiming professional tools to produce art that truly resonates with me—as creative resistance and self‑expression. 

Artists & Cultural Commentary:
I discuss my evolution from comics to Kandinsky and Chihuly influences, and why artists’ role now extends beyond expression—into community, culture, and even discussion around the rise of AI in creativity. 

✍️ Why It Matters

This interview offers a rare glimpse into the philosophy and inner life behind Mikono Tisa Studio—from my early inspiration and pivot into marketing, to the moment I decided to return fully to art. If you’ve wondered about the deeper motivations behind the imagery, the Mikono Tisa concept, or the meaning in my current series—this feature speaks to all that.

✅ Want to Read More?

I’d love for you to dive into the full interview on Artist Close‑Up. It explores the personal and philosophical underpinnings of my art in greater depth: from early life to present—and where I see this journey headed next.

🔗 Read the full interview →
 (https://www.artistcloseup.com/blog/interview‑nathaniel‑hunter‑jr)