Demetrius Sumner

I never wanted to learn to paint. I still don't.

Instead, when I began this artistic journey in 2022, my goal was to learn more about me through painting. To free myself from the crippling inhibitions of expectation and, simply, paint.

Painting after painting, I have come to learn the utility and impact of color, media, instruments, and technique, allowing my unique and personal story to be expressed in a voice that is vivid, intricate, and true.

Expressions of doubt and aspiration
of trauma and perseverance
of anxiety and curiosity.

In this sense, my compositions are not creative designs borne from a considered idea but are visceral expressions that, invariably, emanate from emotions and memories. They offer raw glimpses into my lived experience as a black, queer man born and raised in the Deep South, which I hope will captivate and inspire a variety of audiences.

Inspired by the inimitable artistry of Jean-Michel Basquiat, my compositions vacillate between (and often merge) Neo-expressionism and pseudo realism, granting my mind and hand the freedom to speak on their own volition, uninhibited by norms of artistic styles.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Southern University and A&M College, 2012
Juris Doctorate, Tulane University School of Law, 2015