A Street Artist Pushes Past His Disability
B.D. White severed his spine during a pole-vaulting accident as a teen and can't use his legs, but he doesn't let his disability hinder his passion for street art. Under the cover of darkness, the 31-year-old artist goes to the areas of Brooklyn, NY, where he’s planned to put up his stencils and wheat paste posters.
With earbuds in, B.D. White is in constant conversation with his lookout, who scopes out any headlights that might be coming down the road.
B.D. White works on artwork at his studio in Brooklyn, NY, which he was able to afford using the insurance money from his accident. After moving to New York, he was inspired by all of the street art around him and it gave him new direction.
"Find something to help you move forward, whether it’s rehab or therapy or artwork, anything like that to fill your life where you’re like 'it’s not over' — oh I can’t go up steps but who cares," he said.
B.D. White is now taking what he’s learned on the street into the gallery world and creates art to sell with his assistant at his studio in Brooklyn, NY.
Spray cans and canvas in B.D. White's studio.
Filmmaker Chloe Lee modeled for many of B.D. White’s stencils and paintings. She helps White take photographs of the work at his studio.
B.D. White blends some wheat paste glue in the kitchen of his studio.
B.D. White heads back to his studio with his assistant in Brooklyn, NY.
B.D. White's first pop-up gallery show was at Anderson's Martial Arts Academy in Manhattan, NY. Large pieces painted on canvas hung from the wall and from pull-up bars.
B.D. White sold almost all of the 35 pieces he showed at his pop-up gallery show at Anderson's Martial Arts Academy in Manhattan, NY.
B.D. White attends the art show of his friend, Greg Fredrick at Verboten in Brooklyn, NY.
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