“King Chad,” the incredible piece of art dedicated to the late Chadwick Boseman, has found a permanent home at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), according to the Disney Parks Blog.
- “King Chad,” which was previously displayed at Downtown Disney in Disneyland Resort, was moved to CHLA yesterday.
- The move comes as a generous donation by concept artist and former Disney Imagineer Nikkolas Smith.
- This special tribute to Boseman, the star of Marvel’s Black Panther, will now bring joy and inspiration to the patients at CHLA.
- During his time as an imagineer, Smith worked on Disney’s children’s hospital programs as well as Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure.
- The Walt Disney Company and CHLA have had a decades-long relationship as part of the company’s children’s hospitals initiative.
- This initiative had allowed the company to bring immersive experiences and personal moments to hospitals around the world.
Artist Nikkolas Smith with CHLA cancer patient Daniel, 11 Courtesy of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
What they’re saying:
- Concept artist and former Disney Imagineer Nikkolas Smith: “It’s just a huge honor for me personally to be able to donate this piece of art to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where I know it will inspire patients going through treatments and serve as a reminder of not only Chadwick’s heart, but also his relatable struggle with cancer. To see my art getting to live on at such a special place where it can bring hope to others – it is truly one of the greatest gifts I could receive.”
- Smith: “One of the very first things I did when I joined Disney was taking a tour of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which was incredibly moving for me, especially now as a father. I was also humbled to visit the set of Black Panther, where I met Chadwick in-person and witnessed his kindness firsthand. Looking at this artwork now, it really married together so many meaningful moments during my time at Disney.”