Christopher Adam Williams is a rarity: a black man of cultural resonance and self-awareness. His name, the Black DaVinci, was given to him by his classmates because in the classroom, he loved to draw and sketch. Indeed, a common trait of the artist Leonardo, who lacked self-discovery, and until after his death, the world finally gave him the recognition and worth that he so deserved. DaVinci, known for his keeping of private sketches and drawings, was a troubled man. Christopher carries those troubles, although well preserved in an embodiment of truth, honesty with self, and a companion to that the former did not have. Unlike DaVinci, who struggled with intimacy in finding suitable partners because of his mental state of mind. On the other hand, Christopher, under different karmic circumstances, has a loving, caring, compassionate, and heart-based partner and a community of supportive friends and family. His presentation is that of a wise and youthful energy combined with a natural humility that is rare amongst artists. Perhaps it’s his being born in Oakland, California, and having a variety of cultures to look to and observe. His educational background Bachelor’s and a master’s in fine arts from the San Francisco Art Institute, where he was awarded Best in Show, MFA, and a finalist for the Headlands Art Center Graduate Residency, which gives him the right of passage to teach and to help heal a student by gifting them with the development of their own talent. Teaching and sharing with them a process that requires devotion and compassion for those seeking the path to working with paints, pens, and pencils on canvas. His inner core wraps around his art practice, which focuses on Black Joy, which he calls a spiritual feeling that has uplifted the African Diaspora through countless trials and tribulations in the quest for freedom and equality. Christopher’s art is for the truth seeker, the honest and passionate person seeking retribution, and the gift of having the kind of heart that can love and maintain a steady resilience after it has been cracked in a million ways. The special heart keeps its intention pure and intact. That’s the beauty of the art and the creative talent of the Black DaVinci. His fluidity and ease of change from publicly commissioned work for television, museums, and private collectors to the I just love my wife, whom he uses frequently as inspiration. He paints her in as many different ways as her body, mind, and temperament allow. Christopher credits his sanity and focused mind to his wife and their love and her support. She is a rock that he depends on, and the respect and adoration are reciprocal. His project of designing the first African American Egyptian chess pieces is worth the wait of the process. His life has not come easy, and the trials have become scars that he proudly shows when sharing with those who are most deserving to hear his story. The Black DaVinci is the real deal, and his self-love is a selfless love that he has for all people. We joked about his having the same name as the famous R&B singer, Christopher Williams, who had the famous hit, “Don’t Wake Me I’m Dreaming.” Well, this Christopher Adam Williams, the Black DaVinci, is wide awake, and the dream is very real. For more information on Christopher Adam Williams, aka The Black DaVinci, see: www.theblackdavinci.com.
