We Can: Portraits of Power

When I was born, the doctors told my mom that if I did survive I would have lots of health problems and be blind, deaf and severely mentally delayed … Boy were they wrong! -Tyler Gordon

Fourteen-year-old Tyler Gordon’s journey from a regular kid growing up in San Jose, California, to a nationally recognized artist wasn’t without its challenges. For the first six years of his life he was deaf, which led to a stutter ? and bullying. Art gave him a creative outlet for his pain. Then, after painting a portrait of Kamala Harris and posting it on social media, he received a call from the vice president herself! Soon his art was everywhere. He had an interview with the The Today Show. He was the youngest artist featured in the Beverly Center. His portrait of LeBron James graced the cover of TIME Magazine. And that was only the beginning!

Here is a debut picture book by Tyler Gordon, featuring his bold paintings of over 30 icons-musicians, artists, writers, civils rights leaders, sports legends, change-makers, record-setters, and more-alongside short explanations of how these people inspire him.

If Tyler can make art and follow his dreams, you can, too. We all can.