Cleveland artist uses pop culture to showcase changing faces of Black History

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - Cleveland native Sammie the Artist is using his art to spread a message of positivity across social media.

Sammie uses a combination of abstract art and pop culture references to create pieces like the ones below:

Sammie has painted figures like Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Dandrige and LeBron James.

His art is a reflection of what he loves and he does his best to promote those doing things for a just cause.

For example, this piece was completed shortly after actor Jussie Smollett fell victim to a hate crime in Chicago.

“I’m still trying to find my style to be honest," Sammie said with a grin.

He draws influence from Jean-Michel Basquiat, an artist famous for his abstract, “street-smart graffiti.”

“I watch a lot of interviews when I work, and I just get inspired by people doing what they love to do.”

“I like to call it bridging the gap. You can learn about history and be cultural in the same breath.” 

He first fell in love with painting at the age of 3.

The 30-year-old’s passion turned into good fortune after he graduated from the Cleveland School of the Arts.

Check out all of his work below:

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