"I was this weird, awkward kid, but I found my place in the world through art," Philoche said.
Eyewitness News caught up with the highly acclaimed artist in his studio in East Harlem, where he creates his masterpieces.
"This is one of my favorite pieces, James Baldwin," Philoche said. "I love it."
It's part of his latest series, Higher Learning, celebrating brown and Black children attending a wide range of schools.
"Right now, I see a lot of these schools being defunded, with administrations trying to erase our history. Our best weapon of choice right now is education," Philoche said.
Right now, Philoche is planning a college tour, taking the pieces to universities that are interested in buying the paintings. The idea was born out of, yet another series titled Give Us Our Flowers, which started as Philoche was grieving the sudden loss of his good friend and attorney, David Brown.
"I started drawing his portrait, and around his portrait I put flowers on it because I wanted to honor him and give him his flowers," Philoche said.
The collection of 60 paintings applauds those who are alive, specifically children of color. Philoche told Eyewitness News it's a way to counter images of how they're often portrayed.
"I want to uplift them and show them they are loved, and not all of us come from broken homes," Philoche said.
His work is in high demand, yet he's humble and committed to supporting up-and-coming artists.
"When I moved to New York 25 years ago, I made it my mission: once I sell a painting, I buy a painting," Philoche said.
Philoche added he owes his career to The Village Voice, at a time when failure was not an option.
Watch More:
Guy Stanley Philoche talks about how art made his dreams come true
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