Charming portrait of composer William Christopher Handy, referred to as the Father of the Blues. Painted with a comically wide-eyed expression on his face, as if someone just unexpectedly snapped his photograph.

Tommy Cheng is a contemporary outsider and folk artist who lives and paints in Washington Heights. His unique style of portraiture has attracted gallery shows in New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Atlanta, and Paris. Cheng's portraits are inspired by pop culture and celebrities. With its wide open eyes, deceivingly expressive faces, and modernly flat construction a Cheng portrait is instantly identifiable.

Artist: Tommy Cheng

Material: Paint on plywood

TC-#36