Artwork Detail

The facade of the building features a pieced titled The World is Yours, powder-coated aluminum perforated screen panels depicting two children and evoking the hopes and dreams for their future.

Floyd Strickland is a multi-disciplinary artist from Los Angeles, CA. Strickland’s artworks are a reflection as well as a critique of aspects of American culture explored through the lens of black and brown children. Drawing inspiration from his own childhood environment, Strickland often uses realistic figures juxtaposed with American cultural figures, creating ethereal figurative paintings. Strickland garners inspiration from famed Birmingham-born, Chicago-based artist Kerry James Marshall and his all-time favorite artist, Aaron Douglas, a prominent Harlem Renaissance artist-illustrator, dubbed the “father of African-American art.” The unconventional path that brought Strickland to the art world contributes to the uniqueness of his work. After many years spent building and renovating elementary schools throughout the country, Strickland noticed the lack of confidence in many black and brown children, a problem that he also struggled with as a child. To combat this, Strickland began painting large-scale figurative oil paintings depicting the beauty, strength, and potential of these children. Strickland’s own children are often the focal points of his pieces, expressing the immense care and emotional attachment he has for them. He wants his children to see themselves as larger-than life figures and hopefully understand how much he loves them. Strickland currently works and lives in Los Angeles.