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Early beginnings
Sylvine Maliko, better known on social media as The Artiiist, is originally from the Central African Republic.
A multi-talented artist, her pseudonym—with its three “i”s—perfectly illustrates the three disciplines she is passionate about: dance, singing, and painting.
At the age of 3, she was already singing. But it was in Canada, at 15, that she discovered a true revelation: painting. She devoted hours to it, translating her sensitivity and vision of the world through her brush.
Works that speak to the heart
Her works primarily highlight women from ethnocultural communities, particularly Black women. Inspired by Africa, she uses her art as a manifesto to affirm:
- Black skin is beautiful.
- Black skin has nothing to envy other skin types.
- Everyone should be proud of their origins.
A singular collection: 3D Hair Painting
Among her most notable creations, Sylvine Maliko created a series entitled 3D Hair Painting, composed of 14 portraits of Black women with different hair styles.
What draws the most attention are the strands of hair in relief, ranging from deep black to vibrant pink.
Through this series, she celebrates freedom of expression and diversity: braids, locs, pigtails… each hairstyle becomes a way to show that Black women can assert their personality and style without limits.
This collection allowed her to secure her very first collaboration with a major company, Coca-Cola. Since then, other partnerships have confirmed her status as an innovative and committed artist.
From architecture to artistic entrepreneurship
With a technical degree in architecture from the Cité collégiale in Ottawa, she quickly realized that the salaried sector wasn’t for her. Her love for art and her burning desire to make a living from her passion led her to launch her own business in 2020 with the creation of Smard Art.
Today, Smard Art represents thousands of works sold worldwide, in both digital and print formats. Sales are not limited to online platforms: her creations are also available in major retailers such as Homesense in Canada and HomeGoods in the United States.
The success of her works lies in her ability to represent her community. She constantly receives messages and comments from her followers thanking her for “drawing someone like me.”