Telvin Wallace is an interdisciplinary artist whose work focuses on mental health and the human condition. He is a recent graduate of North Carolina Central University and is finishing up his MFA in Painting at the New York

Telvin Wallace wants people—particularly Black men—to feel more comfortable with their emotions. Inspired by the Old Masters, the 25-year-old artist is a technical expert, though it’s the contemporary scenes he depicts that truly enliven his subjects.

Growing up Telvin Wallace remembers a drawing competition at his school. Students were tasked with sketching their best tiger, the school mascot, and the winning picture would be featured on the cover of the school’s handbook.