Since 2008, FlyKickz has transformed creativity into culture. Founded by entrepreneur and visual artist Dez, FlyKickz began with one-of-one hand-painted sneaker customs and has evolved into a distinctive contemporary mixed-media art practice that challenges how sneakers, fashion, and fine art intersect.
In 2016, FlyKickz pioneered a distinctive mixed-media art practice by upcycling sneakers and their materials into immersive canvas works. By transforming elements of sneakers an object deeply rooted in fashion, streetwear, and cultural identity into fine art compositions, Dez created a signature visual language that bridges sneaker culture and contemporary art. Her work explores identity, movement, culture, and the stories embedded within the things we wear, while remaining recognizable for its bold composition, texture, craftsmanship, and energetic aesthetic. Today, her work has reached collectors and supporters across the United States, Germany, Ghana, and Switzerland.
FlyKickz’s practice has continued to expand through exhibitions, collaborations, workshops, speaking engagements, and creative projects. Her work has been featured on FOX 29 Philadelphia and Complex’s “Full Size Run,” and she has collaborated on youth sneaker-customizing workshops sponsored by Foot Locker Philadelphia. In 2024, FlyKickz was selected as a CHAMPION Brand Creators Program winner and grant recipient, further recognizing her creative vision and influence.
Beyond the studio, FlyKickz is deeply committed to using art as a vehicle for community impact. Since 2018, she has raised more than $35,000 through crowdfunding and grants to support community-centered initiatives throughout Trenton and Mercer County, including youth arts programming, fundraising campaigns, resource distribution, and nonprofit partnerships. Her community work has included providing more than 1,300 meals through Meals on Wheels, collecting and distributing more than 4,000 essential items to individuals and families in need, and raising more than $10,000 to create youth sneaker-customizing and art workshops. Since 2023, she has also produced community art shows, led a fundraiser supporting an artist battling cancer, and provided all-expense-paid sneaker art workshops for youth in Trenton. Workshop Recap Video!
At the core of FlyKickz is a belief that art can be both visually powerful and purpose-driven. Through her evolving artistic practice, collaborations, and community initiatives, Dez continues to create work and experiences that inspire creativity, build confidence, and connect people through art.
FlyKickz is more than a style it is a movement rooted in creativity, culture, and giving back.
Inspiring one person, one sole at a time.
CV Note: This CV presents a curated selection of FlyKickz’s professional artistic practice and highlights significant exhibitions, collaborations, commissions, grants, awards, media appearances, speaking engagements, and community-based initiatives. Given the breadth of FlyKickz’s practice since 2008, vendor markets, private events, promotional activations, and other engagements are not comprehensively represented.
2026
- Black Joy Lounge, Juneteeth Exhibition. Trenton, NJ. June 2026
- The Limited Run, Vol 1. Brooklyn, NY. May 2026
- Her Story art exhibition, Group Art Show. Chester, PA. March 2026
- Art of Femme, Group Art Show. Seven House Gallery, Brooklyn, NY. March 2026
2025
- Solo Exhibition, Depths of My Sole, ArtWorks (Main Gallery), Trenton, NJ. October- November 2025
- Bare It All Podcast interview. October 2025
- Bold Journey feature. September 2025
- Trenton Public School District Newsletter, 2025 Summer Issue. July 2025
- Art all Night, Trenton, NJ. 2018 - 2025
- Youth Sneaker Art Workshop, Curator, Instructor and Organizer, Grace A. Dunn Middles School, Trenton, NJ. June 2025
- The Rose That Grew from Concrete, collective art exhition. Capital Health Medical Center, Investors Bank Art Healing Gallery. June -August 2025
- FlyKickz presents The Art Collective. Curator and Event Organizer, Trenton, NJ. May 2025
- The Evening Show with Tyrone Miller. April 2025
- Brooklyn Art Cave, Art of Femme, Group Art Show. Brooklyn, NY. March 2025
- Thunder Games Honoree. Trenton, NJ. March 2025
2024
- “I AM TRENTON” Grant Recipient. December 2024
- Artworks Trenton "Red Dot 10x10 Fundraising Exhibition." December 2024
- Artworks Trenton Sequential|Variants collective art exhibition. November 2024
- FlyKickz presents ARTOVERPAIN a collection by ARTOFMATLOC. Curator and Event Organizer, Trenton, NJ. (Art Show Fundraiser) October 2024
- Interview, Fox29 Philadelphia, “Good Day Uncut” October 2024
- 2024 CHAMPION Creators Program Winner & grant recipient.
- FlyKickz Art Show Fundraiser featured in the Trentionian. September 2024
- Pancakes & Booze Art Show, Philadephia. July/Dec 2024
- Trenton Entreprenuer Grant recipient. July 2024
- Volunteer, TUFF Community Cleanup, Trenton, NJ. June 2024
- FlyKickz presents Youth Art Workshop, MCCC Trenton Hall. All expenses paid for 30 youth participants. May 2024
- FlyKickz presents The Art Collective, Curator and Event Organizer, Trenton, NJ. May 2024
- Airwave 1&9 podcast feature. April 2024
- Brooklyn Art Cave, Art of Femme, Group Art Show. March 2024
- Ewing Municipal Building, Group Art Show. Feb 2024
- Bold Journey feature. Jan 2024
2023
- “I AM TRENTON” Grant Recipient. Dec 2023
- Artworks Trenton "Red Dot 10x10 Fundraising Exhibition." Dec 2023
- Volunteer, TUFF Community Cleanup, Trenton, NJ. Oct 2023
- FlyKickz presents Youth Sneaker Customizing Workshop, MCCC Trenton Hall. Raised $6,000 for free youth workshop. Aug 2023
- The Trenton Social, Group Art Show, Trenton, NJ. Jul 2023
- Art Against Racism, Group Art Show, Stockton Education Center, Princeton, NJ. Jun 2023
- Art Jam, Princeton, NJ. May 2023
- Atmos Philadelphia, "Air Max Day" Group Art Show, Philadelphia, PA. Mar 2023
- Guest Presenter, Northeastern Province Kappa Leadership Conference, Kean University. Feb 2023
- Interview, Fox29 Philadelphia, “The 215 Show”. Jan 2023
2022
- Passage Theatre, Group Art Show, Trenton, NJ. Dec 2022
- FlyKickz Carebags, Community Giveback/raised $1200, Trenton, NJ. Nov 2022
- Mercer County Community College, Group Art Show. Nov 2022
- Discussion Panel, Mercer County Community College. Nov 2022
- Trenton Public Library, Group Art Show. Oct 2022
- “I AM TRENTON” Grant Recipient. Sept 2022
- Passage Theatre, Group Art Show, Trenton, NJ. Aug 2022
- Mill Hill Saloon, Group Art Show, Trenton, NJ. Jul 2022
- Passage Theatre- Annual fundraiser/silent auction, Trenton, NJ. Jun 2022
- “Feeding Friendship Award”, Proclamation from Mercer County Board of Commission, Meals on Wheels Volunteer. May 2022
- Passage Theatre, Group Art Show, Trenton, NJ. May 2022
- Volunteer, Trenton Community Day Watershed Clean up. May 2022
- Interview, Fox29 Philadelphia, “The 215 Show”. Apr 2022
- Guest Presenter, Northeastern Province Kappa Leadership Conference, Trenton, NJ. Apr 2022
- Hosted Free Youth Art Workshop, Trenton, NJ. Mar 2022
- Co-Creator Artist, Footlocker Philadelphia/InHouse Design, Sneaker Customizing Workshop, Philadelphia, PA. Feb 2022
2021
- FlyKickz Carebags, Community Giveback/raised $900, Trenton, NJ. Nov 2021
- Volunteer, Tha Block Trenton, Community meal & hygiene distribution, Trenton, NJ. Oct 2021
- Volunteer, TUFF Community Cleanup, Trenton, NJ. Oct/Nov 2021
- Solo Art Show, “Art & Sole”, The Social, Trenton, NJ. Jun 2021
- Newspaper feature, Trenton Downtowner. Jun 2021
- Newspaper feature, U.S. 1 Princeton. Jun 2021
- Co-Creator Artist, Footlocker Philadelphia/InHouse Design, Sneaker Customizing Workshop, Philadelphia, PA. Apr 2021
2020
- FlyKickz Carebags, Community Giveback/raised $1600, Trenton, NJ. Dec 2020
- Volunteer, Culture Change- Community Cleanup, Trenton, NJ. Apr/Sept 2020
2019
- FlyKickz Carebags, Community Giveback/ $800 raised, Trenton, NJ. Oct 2019
- Art all Night, Trenton, NJ. July 2019
- Art all Night, “Art All Night Selects Exhibition”, Trenton, NJ.
2018
- Stage Set Art, COMPLEX show “Full Size Run”, New York, NY. July - Dec 2018
- Volunteer, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Oct 2018
- FlyKickz Carebags, Community Giveback/$500 raised, Trenton, NJ. Oct 2018
- Art all Night, Trenton, NJ.
2021 Newspaper Feature
2021 & 2022 Foot Locker Philadephia Sneaker Customizing Workshop
May 2022 Fox 29 feature