Ricky Lee Gordon

Place: Johannesburg

Born: 1984

Biography:

Ricky Lee Gordon, known by his pseudonym Freddy Sam, is a self-taught artist born in Johannesburg in 1984 and now working and living in Cape Town, South Africa. He is well known for his large-scale murals that can be seen in cities all over the world, from Cape Town to Istanbul and Kathmandu. Having painted under the pseudonym Freddy Sam since 2010, he has now chosen to work under his real name. His artwork focuses on bringing to light relevant social issues, exploring the nature of man in present society, in history, and in nature. He has gained recognition for his achievements in public art, including being featured on CNN, Mail & Guardian’s ‘200 young people in SA who make a difference’, and National Geographic’s list of ‘11 street art greats’ alongside the likes of Banksy and JR. In recent years, Ricky has started to focus on studio work with oil as a chosen medium, allowing for a more meditative environment to create.