From mostly large scale and vibrant portraiture to smaller scale tribute paintings, Jimmie Lackey, otherwise known as ABOY, stays true to a non-conforming and unfiltered and form of expression. Oil paint being his primary medium, he uses a mixture of abstraction and symbolism to create his work while utilizing his very own creative hierarchical process: setting the tone of the painting with a figure and then to filling the canvas from top to bottom and balancing the composition; leaving one thing left to do, color.

Jimmie’s signature bears the form of his one of his more recent creations: the happy helmet. This form factor is not the subject, but an accessory to each piece as it would be in reality. He created the happy helmet as a way of expressing his understanding of social interaction. One might think the helmet oppositely describes what’s underneath, but the helmet is exactly as it sounds, personal protective equipment (PPE). The helmet serves as a way of protecting yourself as opposed to hiding yourself. Jimmie is expressing what it feels like to have to put on a smile everywhere you go, happy or not.