AT WORK  During his Pittsburgh years, David supported himself by painting custom rock T-shirts and denim jackets. At one point, he created pieces for cast members of Jesus Christ Superstar and various touring bands. This was long before licensing restrictions and lawsuits changed the landscape. Artists were grateful for the exposure and David thrived in the creative exchange.

BLACK ROOM  David lived and worked in a small, entirely black room. Black walls, black curtains and lit only by the glow of a red shiny vinyl television. Two mattresses lay on the floor, surrounded by rock posters and stacks of records. A Polaroid camera hung from a lamp alongside his Pentax 35mm with a Carl Zeiss lens, ready for spontaneous city wanderings. It was in this room, fueled by music and solitude, that David drew, painted and shaped his early artistic voice.

ROCK DREAMS  At the National Record Mart on Forbes Avenue, David discovered he had won First Prize in CREEM Magazine’s “Rock Dreams” contest. This is a moment that validated his passion and helped define his path forward.

TVC15  This pencil portrait of David Bowie, inspired by the track “TVC 15” from Station to Station (1976), holds a remarkable story. David carried the drawing to Bowie’s concert. Later that night at the William Penn Hotel, he showed it to the star himself. Bowie admired the work but humorously questioned the depicted breasts. This was an ironic comment from the man who helped introduce gender and sexual ambiguity into rock. Their conversation about art lasted two hours.

GREYHOUND  Not all chapters were glamorous. One morning, an enraged landlord woke David with a gun to his head and told him to get the “Fuck Outta Here”. David gathered only his clothes and drawings, leaving everything else behind. Without hesitation, he boarded a Greyhound bus. Next stop: New York City.