LeVar “Var” Lawrence

Written By LeVar "Var" Lawrence

LeVar “Var” Lawrence was born and raised in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. While other children were out playing, Var spent countless hours inside nurturing a love of drawing. From there, a lifelong love of visual arts was born. At the age of 28, Var was shot over a dice game dispute that left him paralyzed from the neck down. An active family man, Var lives through his love for his children; Shaequan Lawrence, LeVon Lawrence, Lequan Lawrence, Lequasiah Lawrence, Leshea Lawrence, Varnaeshiah Lawrence, and LeVar Lawrence. Today, Var is a core member of the OPEN DOORS Design Team, using bold graphics to creatively inspire and uplift community.

Stories

The Streets
LeVar Lawrence
Black History
The Vartist

Visual Art

Poems

Just My Thoughts

Something About Me 

Change of Heart

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II

 
LeVar "Var" Lawrence

In 2005, I was shot in an argument over a dice game in the Fort Greene projects, where I lived. From the Hospital, I went to Goldwater for rehab. In 2013, they closed, and I came to Coler.

I always knew how to draw anything. If I had chosen to stay in school, I could've been a tattoo artist or an architect. Instead, I chose to be a drug dealer. Once I got paralyzed like this, I started using my phone to manipulate pictures, using more abstraction. I can still be an artist, just in a different way.

When we talk to people, I say what’s in my heart. I talk to kids as if they’re my own. I see my own kids every week. I have three boys and three girls, aged 14 to 25, and I talk to them straight up. That way they can feel they can be straight up with somebody else.

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