Black Voices & Visions on view through 04/03/26 to patrons during ticketed events. Free and open to the public during Arts at the Attucks free events.
Pictured: David in front of one of the featured paintings by Julian Haskins.
“My art is a depiction of unity of all styles for people from all nationalities and backgrounds by delivering peace, hope and joy through positive illustrations on canvas and murals, I try to unify all my ideas, subject matters and talent for individuals from various backgrounds and upbringings to further the improvement of life through beauty of the visual arts for all people to enjoy also understand and accept our differences as artists also the spectators of art as we chase the idea of improving our society from an artistic point of view. My paintings are a representation of this ideal philosophy, I consider my creations on canvases a surreal expressionist style with bits of abstraction incorporated in some portions of my work, I’m constantly investigating and searching creative opportunities to display my creative voice, interpretations/ ideas to the world and the society we live in.”
ARTIST BIO: I’m an artist who resides in Norfolk, VA. I began my artistic journey as a child by drawing comic book characters and drawing landscapes soon I started to transition to charcoal drawings and suddenly started to use oil paints as my curiosity heighten my subject matter began to transform from comics to jazz musicians so I felt it was necessary to engage in this creative venture but soon after I started to study art and learned about various forms and styles and discovered cubism, abstract, expressionism and other prolific art movements as I began to explore these avenues of art. Soon after I started to travel off into different places around the US selling my work at galleries, outdoor venues, jazz clubs , storefronts and the Internet, I had a brief enrollment at The Art Institute of Dallas but failed to complete my studies due to financial reasons but continued to display and sell my work and constantly taking on artistic contracts such as small murals for public schools, colleges and live painting events for the public , my main goal is to continue to share my vision of art and personal ideas of beauty to the world as long as I have the opportunity to fulfill this need and desire that burns inside my soul.
EXPERIENCE:
ARTIST – BOTANICAL GARDEN. 2/2025 to 3/2025. I was part of another group show located at botanical gardens in Norfolk VA this year that focused on African American artists living in Norfolk area , at this show I won an award of most inspired artwork.
ARTIST -JAMESTOWN MUSEUM. 2/2024 to 4/2024. I was a participant in a group show that celebrated black history month in which two of my paintings were on display throughout the museum and when the show was over we were asked to bring any other works we had for sale to be on display at our own table provided by the museum.
SIDEWALK MURAL – VIBE ART DISTRICT – 4/2023 to CURRENT Several artists were selected and assigned to paint many sidewalk murals around the oceanfront area in Virginia Beach and I was chosen to paint for this public art event.
MURAL ARTIST (LIVE PAINTING) – THE VIRGINIA BEACH AFRICAN AMERICAN Cultural CENTER 6/2022 to 9/2022 I also was chosen along with several other artists to complete a live outdoor painting in which the center was responsible for this event and the city provided the artists with 8′-20′ screen canvases on the boardwalk to complete the painting.
PRIVATE SHOW – VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY – 7/2021 to 10/2021 The university gave me an opportunity to display several small pieces of my canvas expressionist and abstract paintings on their campus gallery.
MURAL PAINTING – LYNNHAVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – 6/2021 to CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY Through the Vibe art district and the principal of Lynnhaven elementary school picked my rough draft painting I submitted in a competition held by Virginia Beach public schools and Vibe Art district so I was selected to complete a large 10′ -15′ mural for the school’s cafeteria.
SMALL WALL MURAL PAINTING – VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY – 8/2021 to CURRENTLY DISPLAYED. The facilities management department at VWU which is contracted by Aramark Industries commissioned me to paint a wall mural in their breakroom to uplift the mood and spirits of the employees so I decided to create a beautiful tropical scene.
