Artist Highlight: Justice Dwight

Richmond-based artist Justice Dwight is a self-taught visual storyteller whose work bursts with color, texture, and pride. Inspired at a young age by his father’s portrait paintings and his mother’s love of fashion and dolls, Dwight began creating art at just six years old. Today, he’s known for his bold, mixed-media portraits that combine acrylic paint, rhinestones, glitter, and fabric—resulting in pieces that shimmer with joy and self-expression. His work centers Black and queer identities, drawing inspiration from artists like Barkley Hendricks, Bisa Butler, and Derrick Adams, while carving out a singular, sparkling voice of his own in Richmond’s creative scene.

You can currently catch Justice’s work in two unique exhibitions:

The Gayest Room Ever at Quirk Hotel Richmond
Created in collaboration with Virginia Pride, this immersive hotel installation celebrates Richmond’s LGBTQ+ community and features rotating work by local queer artists, including a dazzling piece by Justice Dwight. Open for bookings and visits through September 27, 2025

Bold, Black, and Beautiful at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
This solo exhibition showcases Dwight’s signature glittering style in a series of portraits that uplift and affirm Black and queer identity. On view now through July 13, 2025

Follow Justice on Instagram @justicedwight to explore more of his work—and don’t miss your chance to see these stunning displays in person.