David Butler

St. Louis native and Ohio-based Artist David Butler has situated himself within the narrative painting tradition. He attained his BFA at the Columbus College of Art and Design, and his MFA at The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Butler’s work engages the visual essence of Blackness in global culture, placing black figures in environments and narratives to provoke dialogue on identity. He has a reputation of enhancing creative academic experiences. His philosophy is that artists, educators, and creative professionals have a responsibility to engage, challenge, and support community. His recent focus is interpreting/archiving images of victims of police and vigilante violence. His paintings often refer to social issues, pop and mass culture. He uses art as a form of activism, with themes such as social justice, sexuality, family structure, and violence, his works references Race, Privilege, and Capitalism. He has done work for clients such as Price Waterhouse Cooper, Ithaca College, Soulo Theory Creative, National Association of Black Accountants, The King Arts Complex, COTA Bus Line, and Miami University Oxford, Ohio. As an educator,  Butler has taught at University of the Arts, Miami University, Oxford, and Columbus College of Art and Design. He currently works in Columbus, OH at the Pizzuti Collection as the Education Outreach Coordinator.