Nieko McDaniel was born and raised in Southern California. In his childhood, he was enamored by Graffiti, Rap, and the desire for an urban lifestyle which inspires his studio practice. McDaniel makes work about Identity & World-Building. Examples he gives are the genres of literature, music, movies, television, and games they consume.

In 2020, McDaniel graduated from American University with a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art. Since graduating, he has held instructional positions at Palo Verde College, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and Middle Tennessee State University. McDaniel joins James Madison University for his first semester in Fall 2024 as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Painting & Drawing.

Education