"I Can't Breathe: Eric Garner" Painting

I grew up in the city of Chicago to parents from Belize, Central America. From as far back as I can remember, my favorite activities were reading and drawing, incessantly. By the age of 9 I knew I was going to be an Artist, but I didn’t know how. As high school was approaching, I knew I could not go to a ‘regular’ school. I needed to be around kids like me, kids who danced, sang, painted, like the FAME school I saw on television.

Thankfully, my mother found The Chicago Academy for the Arts, where I studied Visual Arts, Music, Writing, and Theatre. After winning the first Headmaster’s Award at The Chicago Academy for the Arts at graduation, I went on to The School of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University where I studied Painting, Drawing, Photography, and Graphic Design in the Fine Arts department. By this time I’d decided to start having my own solo exhibitions every semester because I wanted to ensure that I was ready to be a ‘professional.’

For the longest time, I was concerned with being the most technically proficient Artist, but I evolved to realize that Artist’s have power; the power to influence. I decided I could do more, and so I use my Art to address social issues. I have exhibited at home in the United States, as well as places as rich and varied as India, Jamaica, and Belize.

I created the visual poets society because I wanted to do my part in making sure that people with Artistic dreams are exposed to the same training and expertise that I was. the visual poets society is me doing my part to give back.