Dozens of Local Artists Collaborate on Coloring Book, Soundtrack in Love Letter to Cincinnati

Dozens of local artists, musicians and more are joining forces on a love letter to Cincinnati and its communities.

Nice and Nati is a collaborative coloring book paired with an original music soundtrack that focuses on community, creativity and cooperation. Envisioned by Jide’ Fresh and his In Fly We Trust brand, Nice and Nati is being brought to life by 60 visual artists — including fashion designers, photographers, models and illustrators — and 20 musicians who have never worked together before.

While Nice and Nati aims to be a guide to help the community explore and discover the hidden parts of Cincinnati in new and fun ways, it also acts as a roadmap to becoming a better citizen and neighbor, challenging everyone to see the city and its people in a new light.

“Nice and Nati reflects the true soul of Cincinnati — its neighborhoods, businesses, cultural landmarks, and the people who make up its diverse tapestry. It offers a tactile, lasting experience as opposed to fleeting digital impressions,” Fresh said in a press release.

Fresh adds the project aims to send a message of optimism and resilience, with one clear message: We are the city.

Project artists include Alicia Lee, Ayana Ames, Rico Engleman, Tejido de Lucy, Maddie Cain, Jennave Traore’, Javarri Lewis, Ryan Nicole Leary, Turtle Child, Siri Imani, Napoleon Maddox, Devin Burgess and Ingrid Woode, among many others. Artists were chosen based on their passion, skill and commitment to connection, and project manager Donise Coleman organized and worked with them to ensure every part of Nice and Nati reflected the vision of Cincinnati.

To create the coloring book, artists were organized into groups to conceptualize the fashion and photoshoots. An illustrator then transformed these photos into unique coloring pages. The accompanying soundtrack is a compilation of original tracks from local musicians that were inspired by the dynamic spirit of Cincinnati.

“This project is just the beginning,” Fresh said in a press release. “It is a celebration of our city, a guide to hidden gems, and an invitation to grow as individuals and as neighbors. We invite everyone to join us in writing the next chapter of Cincinnati’s story.”

Nice and Nati’s launch will be celebrated with three events in October, starting with a Starfire event at the Cincinnati Art Museum on Oct. 9 featuring former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and focusing on building community in the face of the loneliness epidemic. On Oct. 10, In Fly We Trust will collaborate with Swiss collective [Y]Our 2024 on a one-day workshop exploring the future of Cincinnati. Finally, there will be an artist showcase on Oct. 11 to celebrate those who contributed to Nice and Nati and debut the book.

After its release, Nice and Nati will be distributed through artist networks, retail locations, and partner organizations.

Get updates on Nice and Nati and learn more bout In Fly We Trust here.

This article appears in Jun 11-24, 2025.

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