Rodney Demps’ artistic talent extends beyond his landscape paintings. The interior and part of the exterior of his home are covered with drawings, paintings, and collage that document the ways in which he has experienced the world. His landscape paintings are unique and emotionally charged. As a man rich in imagination, the boundaries between Rodney’s life and art are fluid.

Before Rodney was born, his family lived in Long Island, New York. When they moved to Fort Piece, they settled on 17th Street. Rodney came into the world on November 9, 1953, during a storm that shut down the electricity all over town, including the hospital.

His great-grandmother, a Native American from Nassau, raised him during his early years. She was a...