Pictures Tell Stories: “dork.”
Like life, art doesn’t always follow a straight path.
For Dwayne Vance, also known as “dork.”, the journey moved through music, design, photography, and film before landing on canvas. What it became was a visual display of work that spoke with intention and a commitment to telling stories rooted in Black experience.
I wanted this story for the magazine, but we didn’t get a chance to do that. I didn’t want this to go to waste.
In this conversation, “dork.”, breaks down his creative evolution, the meaning behind his work, and why being unapologetically Black in art still matters.
CashColorCannabis: For readers who are just discovering you, who is AdopeBlackArtist, and what led you to create under that name?
“dork.”: My given name is Dwayne Vance. My artist name is “dork.”, a moniker given to me years before I ever started painting. As for “AdopeBlackArtist,” I needed something that truly reflected who and what I am. That came from some advice I got from the late, great Virgil Abloh.
CashColorCannabis: When did you realize art was more than just expression for you?
“dork.”: From a very early age. My story is a little different. My parents recognized my talent and nurtured it. I was never told it wasn’t realistic, even growing up in Gary, Indiana.
Ironically, I avoided art for a while. But the need to create was always there. I started with music, moved into graphic design, then photography and videography, before coming back to drawing and painting. At 32, I painted my first piece, and everything clicked.
CashColorCannabis: What message are you trying to leave with people through your work?
“dork.”: I create from real life and experience. From Jet and Ebony magazines in my childhood to modern music and culture, it all connects.
I think of my work as “urban hieroglyphs.” I blend Black imagery, real-life personalities, quotes, and even cartoon characters into something layered. It’s meant to create a deeper message, something people can unpack.





CashColorCannabis: What does your creative process look like?
“dork.”: I create with intention. The inspiration comes from observation, from real life and what I consume mentally.
But for a piece to feel complete, it has to evoke emotion. If it doesn’t make people feel something, it’s not done.
CashColorCannabis: You’ve said “everything is art.” What does that mean to you?
“dork.”: Once I realized everything we interact with is designed, from food labels to car sounds, I started seeing the world differently.
It’s allowed me to blur the lines between mediums. I’m more open to experimenting. Some people might say that slowed me down in finding a defined style early on, and they might be right.
CashColorCannabis: What does it mean to create as a Black artist right now?
“dork.”: It comes with responsibility. We’re not a monolith. We’re multifaceted, more than ever.
I think it’s important to create authentically so your voice comes through clearly. At the same time, we’re in a moment where we appreciate who we are more than ever.
