Born on February 23, 1943 in Liberty City near Miami, Florida, Purvis Young was introduced to art by an uncle. He left school at a young age, but began drawing again and perusing art books whilst serving a three year prison sentence for breaking and entering. It was after his release that he chose to seriously pursue his creative path. A prolific, though untrained artist, with a relentless creative drive, he painted on such diverse materials as printed book pages, cardboard, scrap wood, doors and crates found on the streets of his Overtown neighbourhood. Young’s subject matter revolved around the trials of urban life. Horses (which to him denoted freedom), stylised figures and angels (signifying good people and the possibility of goodness in a troubled world) made regular appearances in his work.