As quickly as John was inspired to become an artist, he was convinced not to. Being told that artists only made money when they died crushed his hopes of becoming one professionally. Because of this, John passed up on an opportunity to formally develop his skills in a prestigious high school arts program.

Despite this, John continued to create art because it was a true passion of his.

While growing up in the urban environment of Newark NJ for the first 23 years of his life, John was surrounded by drugs, violence, and crime. He knew this was not the life for him and decided to join the United States Marine Corps.

Four years of honorable active military service exposed John to a new world that was filled with many opportunities.

Still not satisfied and having the urge to make his dream a reality, John decided he would no longer let the doubts of others influence his decisions. This moment marked the birth of The Art Bandit.

Determined to teach himself how to paint, he spent every moment of his free time researching old masters of the art world and practicing their techniques.

Today, tens of thousands of supporters follow John’s work. His paintings have been owned and embraced by Rihanna, Mike Tyson, Rick Ross, Triple H, and Swizz Beatz, just to name a few. John has accomplished amazing things with his art. And while there is still so much more in store, he is most grateful for the opportunity to document his journey with the hopes of encouraging others to Dream, Create, and Inspire.