Seattle

“Being part of ArtLifting, I feel I have come full circle. Art has been a positive focus for me. It is a way I can communicate with others. My art does not project me as someone with mental illness or homelessness, but as a person who wants to share joy and beauty with others. ”

Jeffrey Mayo is  a visual artist, performer and musician also known in his artistic circles as “Cheetah” which will often appear as the signature on his artwork.   Jeffrey draws his creative inspiration from within and creates through drums and hand percussions in addition to oil and chalk pastels.  Jeffrey currently is homeless and living in his jeep while receiving services from the Ballard NW Senior Center in Seattle for support in locating housing, dental care, food and basic necessities. He describes that his days and nights are filled by creating designs and applying color.  

His artwork shows thematic elements such as his interest in architecture, music, cycles of nature as well as his life experiences.  He was born in Seattle and currently resides there, but spent many of his formative years in San Francisco.  He has been making art since he was 15 years old and describes, ““My art began as a hobby. It grew into a way of life. When I was in Mission High School, San Francisco my teacher entered one of my paintings in the "Plant a Tree Week" art contest. My painting was of a hand holding a ball of soil with a young tree growing out of it. I won the contest and had my painting shown at the DeYoung Museum. Today for me the soil symbolizes my present circumstance of being homeless.”   

Jeffrey has worked in various jobs including Printing, Security and Janitorial services but describes that he became homeless when he was unable to work after surgery on his pituitary gland in 2013. He hopes that selling his art will make an important impact on his life.

“With increased income, I hope to find  a home to live and to have my vehicle repaired, to be able to afford food that is nutritious and to keep my hygiene up. I have been homeless for three years, but creating art and music has kept me hopeful and happy. I understand how art can bring joy, peace and inspiration to others and I hope to be able to share this feeling with more people through my art.”