Oil and Aerosol on Canvas/ 60in x 48in/ 2022

Oil and Aerosol on Canvas/ 48in x 60in/ 2022

Oil and aerosol on Canvas/ 60in x 48in/ 2022

Oil and Aerosol on Canvas/ 60in x 48in/ 2019...This is a portrait of Mr. Bond, the Dean of Students at Bard High School Early College Baltimore.

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 72in x 48in/ 2019...A portrait of Dr. Francesca Gamber who is the Head of School for Bard High School Early College Baltimore.

Oil, Acrylic Gouache, and Aerosol on Canvas/ 72in x 176in/ 2019...This assemblage chronicles my upbringing as a martial artist and the immense role martial arts played in developing self control and discipline. The main subject of the piece is my father, who was/is my instructor.

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 48in x 36in/ 2019...This is a portrait of performance artist and painter, Barber. The piece was inspired by one of his performance pieces entitled "Blemished Cosmology".

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 75in x 48in (2 panels)/ 2019...This is a portrait of Dr. Adam Levin who is a cancer physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 48in x 24in/ 2019...This is a painting of a memorial that was only a couple blocks from where a Baltimore Ceasefire rally I attended was being held.

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 72in x 48in/ 2019...This painting was composed from various images taken by me at a Baltimore Ceasefire rally. I was immediately struck by how many children were willfully joining in on the rally.

This installation features a series of portraits of private prison industry execs (each piece titled, "Thugs") and a supporting ground installation (titled Bullion/Cell) made of plastic gold bar party decorations. The center of the ground installation measured (6ft x 8ft (the average size of a prison cell)) and was the only place where viewers were surrounded by all of the portraits.

This installation features a series of portraits of private prison industry execs (each piece titled, "Thugs") and a supporting ground installation (titled Bullion/Cell) made of plastic gold bar party decorations. The center of the ground installation measured (6ft x 8ft (the average size of a prison cell)) and was the only place where viewers were surrounded by all of the portraits.

Plastic Gold Bar Party Decorations

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 20in x 16in/ 2017

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 20in x 16in/ 2017

Acrylic, Collage and Aerosol on Canvas/ 18in x 14in/ 2017

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 20in x 16in/ 2017

This installation features a series of portraits of private prison industry execs (each piece titled, "Thugs") and a supporting ground installation (titled Bullion/Cell) made of plastic gold bar party decorations. The center of the ground installation measured (6ft x 8ft (the average size of a prison cell)) and was the only place where viewers were surrounded by all of the portraits.

24 Karat Gold on Paper/ 10in x 8in/ 2017

24 Karat Gold on Paper/ 10in x 8in/ 2017

Acrylic, Aerosol, Steel-Pigmented Paint, and Rust Accelerant on Canvas/ 50in x 40in/ 2022

Acrylic, Aerosol, Steel-Pigmented Paint, and Rust Accelerant on Canvas/ 50in x 40in/ 2022

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 80in x 60in/ 2019...This painting chronicles the fight against oneself that ensues when shadow boxing.

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 80in x 60in/ 2019...Another painting that chronicles the fight that ensues with oneself when shadow boxing.

Oil, Oil Stick, and Aerosol on Canvas/ 40in x 30in/ 2017...One of various abstract paintings that are fueled by recollections of my most intense fights while studying martial arts.

Oil, Oil Stick, and Aerosol on Canvas/ 24in x 18in/ 2017...One of various abstract paintings that are fueled by recollections of my most intense fights while studying martial arts.

Oil, Oil Stick, and Aerosol on Canvas/ 36in x 24in/ 2017...One of various abstract paintings that are fueled by recollections of my most intense fights while studying martial arts.

Oil and Aerosol on Canvas/ 40in x 30in/ 2017...One of various abstract paintings that are fueled by recollections of my most intense fights while studying martial arts.

Acrylic, Ink, and Aerosol on Paper/ 60in x 48in/ 2016...This is the second painting (fueled by my experiences as a martial artist) that explores (and conveys) the chaos of fighting and violence. With America being so divided, I foresee violence escalating at an alarming rate. Violence is an ugly aspect of the human experience, but for the protection of oneself, it is sometimes a necessary evil. The choice to fight (risking harm to another person) will be one that a lot of us will have to confront if the nation's current climate persist.

Acrylic, Ink, and Aerosol on Paper/ 48in x 48in/ 2016...This is the first painting (fueled by my experiences as a martial artist) that explores the chaos of fighting and violence. With America being so divided, I foresee violence escalating at an alarming rate. Violence is an ugly aspect of the human experience, but for the protection of oneself, it is sometimes a necessary evil. The choice to fight (risking harm to another person) will be one that a lot of us will have to confront if the nation's current climate persist.

Embracing/ Acrylic, Aerosol, Steel-Pigmented Paint, and Rust Accelerant on Canvas/ 40in x 30in/ 2022...this self-portrait chronicles my sentiments as I reached my 40th birthday. I have become more conscious of my mortality and have accepted the fact that I cannot predict what happens from here. It is up to me to adapt to the changes my body and psyche will undergo, as I continue to age.

Oil and Aerosol on Canvas/ 72in x 48in/ 2020...This is the 3rd in a series of paintings that works to incorporate the spiritual connotations of bugs/insects. With my late grandfather's 1931 graduation photo being the central reference, the painting works to encourage the value of persistence through the pesky obstacles life throws us from time to time.

Oil and Aerosol on Canvas/ 60in x 36in/ 2019...The little girl in the painting, wearing her school uniform, is surrounded by scarab beetles to signify her being a beacon of hope for a brighter future.

Oil and Aerosol on Canvas/ 40in x 30in/ 2018...This painting of my 17 year old nephew examines his psyche as he quickly approaches life as an African American man.

Acrylic and Aerosol on Canvas/ 48in x 36in/ 2019...This painting was inspired by a photo I took of my Mom just before she headed out for a night of socializing.

Oil on Canvas/ 40in x 40in/ 2015...This is the first in a series of paintings that examine the awkward and uncomfortable role racism plays in African American life. I used my niece as a subject to convey how African American children are not even exempt from the unfair treatment that is the result of racism.

Oil on Linen/ 48in x 36in/ 2015...This is the second in a series of paintings that examine the awkward and uncomfortable role racism plays in African American life. This piece features my 25 yr old brother. Attempts to understand the reasons behind racial discrimination often become draining and consuming. The qualities of the awkward box begin to seep into my brother, as a way of examining the aforementioned phenomenon.

Oil on Canvas/ 48in x 36in/ 2015...This is the third in a series of paintings that examine the awkward and uncomfortable role racism plays in African American life. This painting of my teenage nephew examines the awareness of racism being a fact of African American life that is adopted around the time we enter our teens.

Oil and Aerosol on Canvas/ 72in x 60in/ 2018...This painting chronicles the environmental factors that can break/reinforce relationships.

Oil on Canvas/ 54in x 36in/ 2016...this painting of my Iranian classmate was my response to Middle Eastern men and women now being under suspicion of criminality, relative to the rhetoric spewed by President Trump during his campaign.

Oil on Canvas/ 18in x 14in/ 2016...This portrait of my brother (who is college educated and has no criminal record) was my portrayal of what some police officers may imagine "the description" to be. Every time I've been stopped and frisked, "fitting the description" has always been their reasoning for the the stop. The glossy passages of paint work to draw attention to the sitter's eyes. Also, the dark green of my brother's shirt and durag against the red background are meant to convey the tension of encounters between police and African American males.

Oil on Canvas/ 56in x 38in/ 2016...This painting was inspired by a quoute attributed to Frederick Douglass ("It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men"). This painting was my response to the struggles I sometimes have navigating life as an African American male due to the environmental factors of my past (i.e. economic deprivation and being stereotyped).

24 kt Gold and Sterling Silver on Sanded Pastel Paper/ 31 in x 27in/ 2018

This drawing serves as the beginning of a series of drawings that notes the tremendous value my family and close friends hold in my heart.

24 kt Gold and Sterling Silver on Sanded Pastel Paper/ 31 in x 27in/ 2018

This drawing serves as the beginning of a series of drawings that notes the tremendous value my family and close friends hold in my heart.

Charcoal, Ink, White Gold, and Silver Leaf on Paper/ 30in x 22in/ 2014...This drawing of a fellow artist (who is a metalsmith) works to convey the spiritual concept of duality. By juxtaposing her very soft, feminine appearance with an impression of her geometric metal assemblages, I want to convey a sense of the masculine and feminine forces that exist in us all.

Acrylic and Collage on Canvas/ 40in x 30in/ 2014...This narrative portrait is of my little brother and is meant to connote the resilience he's acquired (in terms of the pursuit of his goals) relative to being raised in Detroit's urban environment.

Acrylic and Collage on Canvas/ 60"x 36"/2013...A narrative painting of a friend aimed at conveying the positive impact growing up in Detroit had on her. This city that is constantly portrayed in a negative light by the media produced a brilliant rose.