Last year, we shared the gorgeous artwork that Southern California artist and former Disney Imagineer Nikkolas Smith created.
The beautiful piece has been displayed on the former ESPN Zone building in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort – until yesterday.
The Disney Parks Blog announced this morning that the stunning artwork has been donated by its creator to its permanent home at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) where it will surely bring joy to those who see it for years to come.
Nikkolas Smith had the following to say about not only the art but also of his time spent with Chadwick Boseman.
It’s just a huge honor for me personally to be able to donate this piece of art to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where I know it will inspire patients going through treatments and serve as a reminder of not only Chadwick’s heart, but also his relatable struggle with cancer. To see my art getting to live on at such a special place where it can bring hope to others – it is truly one of the greatest gifts I could receive.
One of the very first things I did when I joined Disney was taking a tour of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which was incredibly moving for me, especially now as a father. I was also humbled to visit the set of Black Panther, where I met Chadwick in-person and witnessed his kindness firsthand. Looking at this artwork now, it really married together so many meaningful moments during my time at Disney.
Feature Image: Artist Nikkolas Smith with CHLA cancer patient Daniel, 11 Courtesy of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles