Kyng Rhodes is called to painting by his observations of society, a long-held love of art, graphic expression, and his own spirituality. Formally trained as a graphic designer, Rhodes moved away from commercial work to illuminate topics he hopes to see more collective reflection and dialogue around–environmental sustainability, care, and familial relationships. Vibrant color palettes, intricate botanical borders, and stylized figures hallmark his current work, encouraging joy and optimism alongside more complicated stories.
During the summer of 2020, Rhodes participated in several protests against racial injustice which resulted in his participation in Indianapolis’ “Black Lives Matter” mural installed by 18 local artists who later form a collective in 2021 known as the 18 Art Collective. In March of 2023 Rhodes was commissioned by Newfields to create a 75 ft mural that would go on to win several awards at the Philadelphia Flower Show including including a Gold Medal.