Jay D. is a 26-year-old Los Angeles native who was raised in Alabama. The two worlds could not be more different, and the experience of living in the South has drastically shaped who he is. He never considered himself the best artist, though his love for it was always there. On the contrary, he has always considered his greatest strength to be his words.

What started as notes on his phone has spawned a series of coffee table books full of poetry. He says it started by thinking, "If you're going to have art in your space, it shouldn't be from a meaningless store; it might as well be art that matters." So, he made his first collection and displayed it in his home while only sending it to close family and friends. After finishing the book, he felt that something was missing- so he decided to accompany each poem with rich pieces of art that tell the story words never could.

Jay D's debut collection, "An Ode to Us: Encouragement to Caterpillars," shares the good, the bad, and the very ugly underbelly of the African American journey. He says, "No matter who they are or where they come from, this collection is meant to connect with people. In a time of disunity, it's a place where people can get encouragement, heartbreak, and heartbreak as if it were their own." He hopes the combination of unique storytelling and visual imagery causes people to revisit each poem and art piece like they are consuming their favorite book as if it's the first time- seeing a new stroke every time.

Along with his personal collections, he loves collaborating and creating commissioned poems/art pieces for anyone with a story to tell. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Megan, and their two kids, Ari'elle and Adonis. Jay D. has a deep love for God and wants that to show through his art. He says, "Very little of my art is intended to sway people to believe what I do, but the beauty of God is interwoven through all of it because my purpose is to encourage people through every area of my life." His intention is to use his art as a tool for encouragement and inspiration, regardless of the viewer's beliefs.