Lucid Gardens brings a world of color to Southwest Florida

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WINK) — For Nick Rapp, art is more than something to look at. It is a way to explore the subconscious, turn people and personalities into characters and bring a little more color to a world he believes can sometimes feel too ordinary.

Rapp, who works under the art name Lucid Gardens, describes his work as psychedelic sci-fi, often incorporating vivid colors, imaginative characters and a black-light element that makes his pieces come alive in a different way, " I was tired of seeing art without color and I wanted to bring that back," he said.

His artistic style also has a deeply personal origin.

At 15, Rapp underwent a cornea transplant after suffering a severe eye injury. His left eye now has significantly distorted vision, something he said has influenced the way he creates.

Rather than viewing that difference as a limitation, Rapp incorporated it into his artistic identity. He created a character representing the soul, inspired in part by the idea that a part of himself he never knew could become part of his illustrations, " Sharing a body part with a cadaver has changed the way I see the world and my art."

Rapp has designed and built gates, worked on projects connected to FGCU and incorporated his art into community projects. He has also worked with local names including Sugarshack Sessions, Scoops Ice Cream and Aqui Bowls, creating custom designs and immersive murals.

He also became involved with the Bayshore Arts District, where he said a food truck park gave him the freedom to experiment with his artwork and helped mark a turning point in his career.

In 2020, Rapp sold his first commission and began pursuing art more seriously. Since then, he has participated in community art events and created lettering for Twisted Art Gallery on Bayshore.

Now, he is bringing his different skills together for his latest project: LowBrow 2 in Bonita Springs.

Rapp is helping create seating, tables and large-scale, colorful murals for the project, combining his experience in carpentry, design and visual art.

For Rapp, the goal is bigger than creating eye-catching artwork. He said he wants to create experiences that feel unique and encourage people to step outside the ordinary.

As Southwest Florida continues to grow, Rapp said he hopes his work can preserve some of the area's individuality by bringing more color, creativity and personality into the places people live and gather.