Since 2008, FlyKickz has transformed creativity into culture. What began with one-of-one hand painted sneaker customs evolved into a groundbreaking artistic vision led by founder and artist Dez, redefining how sneakers and fine art intersect.
In 2016, FlyKickz pioneered a distinctive mixed-media approach by upcycling sneakers into canvas artwork, creating bold, textured pieces that merge fashion, storytelling, and contemporary art. With collectors and supporters spanning the United States, Germany, Ghana, and Switzerland, FlyKickz has become recognized for innovative craftsmanship, originality, and a signature aesthetic that blends boldness, beauty, and energy.
Beyond the art itself, FlyKickz is rooted in purpose. Through community-driven initiatives, fundraising campaigns, youth workshops, and nonprofit partnerships, the brand has raised over $35,000 to support impactful projects throughout the Trenton and Mercer County communities, including being awarded $25,000 in grants, delivering over 1,300 meals to residents through Meals on Wheels, successfully gathered and distributed over 4,000 items consisting of lunches, hygiene products/necessities for those in need, provided youth with art supplies and raised over $10,000 to curate Youth Sneaker Customizing & Art Workshops. Workshop Recap Video!
FlyKickz has also collaborated on youth sneaker customization workshops sponsored by Foot Locker Philadelphia, appeared on Fox29 Philadelphia, and served as a guest speaker at regional youth leadership conferences, using art as a platform to inspire creativity, confidence, and opportunity.
At its core, FlyKickz exists to merge art with philanthropy, creating work that not only stands out visually, but leaves a lasting impact within the community.
Inspiring one person, one sole at a time.
2026
- Trenton Creatives Networking Brunch. Trenton, NJ. March 2026.
- Her Story art exhibition, Group Art Show. Chester, PA. March 2026
- Seven House Gallery, Art of Femme, Group Art Show. 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. June 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.
- Raised over 2K to curate/organize Art Show Fundraiser. September 2024
- FlyKickz Art Show Fundraiser featured in the Trentionian. September 2024
- Pancakes & Booze Art Show, Philadephia. July/Dec 2024
- Trenton Entreprenuer Grant recipient. July 2024
- Art all Night, Trenton, NJ. June 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