"Mike's New Sneakers" was inspired by a story told by Philly legend Kenny Gamble. He once shared how the Jacksons' song "Find Me a Girl" was created- and the part that grabbed me was Michael wanting to buy himself a pair of sneakers. So, they walked right down Chestnut Street to get them. 

As someone born and raised in Philadelphia, the idea of an 18-year-old Micheal Jackson casually walking the same street I've been on countless times blew my mind. You never hear stories like that- Mike talking about sneakers or just moving through the city like any other young man.

The painting shows a young Micheal sitting on a 1970s style couch in a red turtleneck and blue bell-bottom jeans, placed at the center of a classic black-and-white Jackson 5 group photo. And on his feet: a fresh pair of blue low-cut Chuck Taylor -style sneakers - the spark that lit this whole piece.