@alvinclaytonartist

Alvin Clayton, like his artistry, is an eclectic mix of visual artist, professional fashion model, athlete and restaurateur. But he was always driven to paint from an early age. Like many households, Alvin certainly couldn’t express the desire to become a visual artist as that was not considered a “real” career. Consequently, Alvin attended college on academic and athletic scholarships, and modeled professionally. When he landed a photoshoot in Paris he discovered French visual artist Henri Matisse. Alvin was awe-struck, as the use of colors reminded him of his Trinidadian home. He knew then that suppressing the desire to paint was no longer an option, and subsequently taught himself to paint. He was also greatly influenced by renowned photographer James Van Der Zee. He maintained his newly established painting career throughout his 25 years of modeling where he appeared in GQ, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Ebony, Esquire and Glamour magazines. He was also commissioned to create work for films including, most notably, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, The Gail Devers Story, The Best Man Holiday and The Best Man: The Final Chapters. His work has also been showcased on CNN and at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. In 1992, Clayton held his first solo show at the Lee Arthur Gallery in Soho. Clayton is collected by Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Blair Underwood, Robert De Niro, CCH Pounder, Hill Harper, Janice Huff, and Kenneth Chenault, to name a few. Also, important to note, Alvin is the restaurant owner of Alvin & Friends, selected as “Best of Westchester” five times by Westchester Magazine, winner of an Open Table 2017 Diner’s Choice award, and described by The New York Times as a “darling of downtown New Rochelle.”

Featured Work:

A Court Blinded by Ideology (2023) | Oil on canvas | $25,000

Justice should be blind, but in recent years, the court has been influenced by money and political agendas, in my humble opinion. A litmus test is issued before judges that should be impartial are chosen by each political party. Thus blinded by political ideologies.

Under Water (2023) | Oil on canvas | $20,000

In the present climate, politically, with the rewriting of black history, banning of books, and social injustices, many young black men feel a drowning sensation and can’t seem to get above water, no matter how close we are to the surface.

Three Girl Friends (2023) | Oil on canvas | $20,000

Women and young women, through their empathy, will be the catalyst to change our world so that we can live in a more tolerant society. The future mothers will teach their children love and tolerance.