Most Needed

2024
Mixed Media, Acrylic on Paper
24 × 30 in

Most Needed turns the familiar language of “Most Wanted” on its head. Rather than framing the young Black boy as someone to be feared, pursued, or judged, the painting asks us to see him as someone most needed—needed by his family, his community, and his future. His quiet, vulnerable gaze is surrounded by vivid color, stars, and recurring pepper imagery, creating a space where innocence and identity coexist with strength. The title challenges the assumptions often placed upon Black boys: before society decides who they are, Most Needed asks us to recognize their value, possibility, and importance.