Morgan Harper Nichols On Creativity, Morning Rituals, And Childlike Wonder

And how it all inspired her newest creative partnership with Starbucks

You’ve seen Morgan Harper Nichols’ work on Instagram, even if you don’t think you have. The straight-to-your-heart mantras have filled your friends’ Instagram Stories and her artwork has colored your discover feed.

Now the artist and poet is coming to an Instagram effect near you. Through a creative partnership with Starbucks by Nespresso for Vertuo, Nichols has created a series of “Morning Mantras” that overlay onto your coffee table, kitchen table, or the floor where you’re sitting thinking about how to take the next creative step in your life. A cup of coffee and mantra will then rise from the surface and help you ground yourself to the present moment.

It sounds ephemeral, except it isn’t. Any creative knows that it’s the small moments that make the big outcomes possible. It’s the creative process that we learn to fall in love with (and struggle through) that inspires us the most.

Nichols was generous enough to sit down with me (over Zoom) and share more about her partnership and her daily creative process.

VN: How did this partnership come about?