Michelangelo Lovelace (b.1960)

Entrepreneurial and driven, most of this artist's murals appear on the sides of down-trodden buildings in the neighborhoods, or as paintings and sculptures of his environment-the neighborhoods. They have a social message about the "life" and issues there and always give the viewer insight. The overall theme is community and they address concerns about cultural, racial and economic tensions in the inner city-reflections on the life of the African-American iun America today. They are invigorating and lively, thoughtful and focus the viewer immediately. Lovelace comes from the environment he paints and he has prevailed over the years. His interest and focus on developing his painting career stems from persistence, mentoring, self-confidence, and skills-and his genial yet tough personality.