Lawrence Dantzler-Bey

Lawrence Dantzler-Bey’s love for art came from Dantzler-Bey’s mother. Dantzler-Bey says, “I drew a picture for my mother at eight. She called all seven of my siblings to the living room and showed them my drawing and said, ‘Look what my baby drew for me.’ My siblings loved my drawing skills. My mother then said, ‘Come here baby and let momma give you a kiss.’ That was the sweetest kiss I ever received. When I discovered that my drawings bring joy to my mother, I have been drawing ever since. I have been incarcerated since I was eighteen, and I am now fifty-three. I met a master artist in 1993 named Sam Allen who taught me how to paint. I could never speak about my success without honoring my mother and Sam. I pray that I’ve made them both proud.”