THE ARTIST
As an artist, my mission is to create vibrant, thought-provoking works that engage the senses and foster a deep connection to my culture. My art celebrates color, identity, excellence, empowerment, and human connection, with the Black experience at its heart. Each piece is an exploration of identity and an homage to the pursuit of excellence and the beauty of embracing one’s true self. Art, to me, is a powerful force that unites, empowers, and inspires us all.
BIOGRAPHY
Otha “Vakseen” Davis III (b. 1979, Athens, GA) is a self-taught, museum-exhibited painter, visual artist, and multi-platinum, diamond-certified creative executive whose work celebrates beauty, identity, and the Black experience. Raised in Jacksonville, FL and based in Los Angeles since 2011, Vakseen is known for his acclaimed Vanity Pop and Legends Only series—vibrant collage-style portraits and cultural icons that fuse fine art and pop sensibilities with symbolic realism.
Through his Vanity Pop paintings, Vakseen reimagines portraiture as a layered exploration of self-worth, empowerment, and representation. Merging fashion, emotion, and symbolism, his work honors the strength and complexity of women while reflecting the intersection of beauty and identity in modern culture. Complementing this, his Legends Only series pays homage to cultural icons and visionaries who have shaped our collective consciousness—bridging fine art and pop culture while celebrating Black excellence and creative legacy.
Before transitioning full-time into visual art, Vakseen built an award-winning two-decade career in the music industry, contributing to numerous diamond and multi-platinum records, Billboard #1 albums, and critically acclaimed hits as a producer, songwriter, and creative leader. That same creative excellence now defines his visual art practice. His pseudonym “Vakseen” represents being “the cure”—a reminder that we can either complain or be the change we wish to see. That ethos fuels every creative pursuit across his multidisciplinary career.
His art has been exhibited by Adidas, Vans, the African American Museum of Dallas, Ontario Museum of History & Art, MOCA Cleveland, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, and the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, among others. His work has appeared in collaborations with Nike, The History Channel, and musician’s estates, and featured in media outlets such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Forbes, Architectural Digest, American Art Collector, and Black Enterprise. It has also been seen in Insecure (HBO), Snowfall (FX), Poppa’s House (CBS), Reasonable Doubt (Hulu), BBC World News, and CBS News.
With celebrity collectors, global exhibitions, and a growing cultural footprint, Vakseen continues to create art that ignites dialogue, celebrates Black excellence, and inspires transformation. Whether viewed on screen, in galleries, or in private collections, his work invites reflection, healing, and the celebration of self.
VANITY POP ARTIST STATEMENT
“What is Love?” (2022)
When we talk about Blackness—or any person of color—much of what’s celebrated in media and popular culture remains one-dimensional. We’re surrounded by stereotypes or constant reminders of trauma, racism, and cultural bias.
I create to remind my people who they are. I create to remind the world that beauty is more than skin deep. While I honor the past, I believe we live in a Law-of-Attraction-based time and space—one that calls us to focus on the present and envision the experiences we desire. My paintings celebrate positive Black experiences and moments of thriving, because what we focus on expands. Through my work, I want to remind you that you are royalty, and that you hold the power to manifest the life of your dreams.
The painted layers in my work mirror the dualities we navigate in life, reflecting a larger message about redefining and reclaiming our image. I’m reclaiming ownership of what it means to be Black—celebrating the beauty of melanin in all its shades. My “collage-like” compositions remind viewers that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Each portrait challenges projections, redefines beauty, and honors its many forms.
As a man, I’m naturally drawn to celebrate women through my art. I believe women are God’s greatest creation—the living embodiment of divinity and creation itself. Even as I reflect on God or divine energy, everything about life feels feminine. To me, divinity is femininity. No man exists without a woman giving him life.
Portraits of women, in my view, represent all of us—men and women alike. Painted portraits have always symbolized power, and I choose to channel that power to honor and uplift femininity. Historically, women have been portrayed as lesser, but anyone paying attention knows women run the world. My gaze is rooted in reverence, not objectification. Through celebrating women, I reinforce my broader themes of empowerment, divine energy, and the reminder that we all possess the power to create the life of our dreams.
I create to spark dialogue about the power of beauty and perception. Opinions don’t define us. The past doesn’t define us. Through these portraits, I invite people from all walks of life to reflect on their own journeys—how they’re seen, how they see others, and how they define themselves. I want viewers to remember their greatness, to feel empowered and inspired, and to gain a deeper appreciation for the Black experience. Ultimately, I hope my work reawakens the truth that we are all great, we are royalty, and we are all connected by the beauty of the human experience.
LEGENDS ONLY ARTIST STATEMENT
Black icons have always been symbols of representation and inspiration for me. Growing up, their posters covered my walls—a daily reminder that if they could rise to greatness, I could too.
My Legends Only collection celebrates these cultural giants whose stories, struggles, and triumphs paved the way for generations. Each portrait is a tribute to their legacy and the power of perseverance, reminding us that we all have the potential to become legends in our own right.