‍Micah Johnson transitioned from professional baseball to digital art after discovering a love for painting during a 2016 paint-and-sip class. At the time, Johnson played second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers and used the offseason to explore creative pursuits.

Soon after, Johnson participated in a team bonding exercise where players shared hobbies. For the first time, Johnson revealed his interest in painting. His coach challenged him to paint a Dodgers MVP, sparking a deeper passion for art. By 2018, after retiring from baseball, Johnson fully embraced art as his second career.

Johnson created Aku, a young boy with a space helmet and an enormous dream. TIME Magazine described Aku as the "world's first digital explorer." Here's how Micah Johnson and Aku World became an iconic piece of internet art.

Johnson minted his first Aku World NFT after he retired from professional baseball

After retiring from baseball, Johnson turned to art to inspire his nephew, who once asked if astronauts could be Black. This moment led Johnson to create Aku, a character designed to encourage children to dream big and see themselves as limitless.

NFTs provided Johnson with a way to share his art without the traditional art world's barriers. He minted his first NFT, “.15 seconds,” a baseball-themed looping animation, in 2020. Soon after, he launched Aku’s ten-chapter journey, which depicted the young boy exploring space and time.

Between 2021 and 2022, Johnson’s NFTs generated over $20 million in sales, cementing his place as a trailblazer in the digital art world. His largest collection, "Akutars," debuted in 2022. This 15,000-piece profile picture collection featured 3D avatars of Aku, each adorned with designs from collaborations with brands like Puma, Billionaire Boys Club, and Paper Planes.

The former baseball player also found that NFTs were a more approachable avenue for sharing and selling his art than the traditional art world, where he had struggled to find his space after retirement.

To Office Magazine, Johnson shared:

“Art was my escape from the anxiety and depression I would deal with at the end of my career and I knew it was something I needed to do for the rest of my life. But, when I retired I went over a year without selling any art and needed a way to make money for my family. I discovered NFTs in late 2019 and realized immediately that this was an opportunity for me to get in early into a world with no gatekeepers.”

Johnson's digital art journey has grown in meaning and impact

Johnson’s entry into digital art came, like most, after he learned about NFTs through conversations on Discord and Twitter. Intrigued, he took the plunge and sold his first NFT in 2020. His early pieces depicted boys in space helmets, their eyes sparkling with wonder and hope.

Soon, Aku evolved into the animated character that became a viral sensation. By 2021, Aku World reached new heights when the project was optioned for TV and film.

Aku, who some consider Johnson’s younger alter ego, symbolizes imagination, resilience, and the courage to dream. Through Aku World, Johnson shares his message of empowering young children of color to see endless possibilities for their future. The digital art project reflects Johnson’s personal journey as a baseball player who pivoted to become a groundbreaking digital artist.

His second career as a digital artist brought him back to baseball dreams

Although Johnson’s first NFT referenced baseball, he avoided referring to the sport in Aku World to establish himself independently. In 2024, however, two meaningful baseball projects prompted his return.

First, Johnson designed a deck of baseball cards celebrating the Negro Leagues after Major League Baseball (MLB) added their player statistics to official records. Johnson called the opportunity "a dream come true."

Later, in July 2024, the MLB licensed Aku for official merchandise, which marked a full-circle moment. On Instagram, Johnson reflected, saying: “An official MLB license is an opportunity I cherish deeply. Baseball has given me a life I never could’ve imagined. I knew once I walked away from the game, that I needed to grow as an artist on my own but one day, when I was ready, I was going to return and use my gifts to give back to this great game.”

Inspiring the next generation

Micah Johnson’s journey from professional athlete to celebrated digital artist demonstrates the power of pursuing one’s passions. Through Aku World, Johnson inspires children to dream big while reshaping the digital art landscape. His story certainly serves as a testament to resilience, creativity, and the limitless potential of believing in your dreams.