About
My Story
I was born without arms on November 18, 1999, in Starkville, Mississippi, and raised in Preston. My artistic journey began in 2016 through the Express Yourself! art program at the TK Martin Center for Technology and Disability at Mississippi State University. There, I first learned to paint using my feet and discovered a creative voice that has continued to evolve.
In 2019, my painting The Star was auctioned at NFL quarterback Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation fundraiser and was acquired by Gene and Jerry Jones. That piece now hangs at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The support from Dak and his foundation helped make my story more visible — including a segment on ESPN — and allowed me to begin building a platform for my work.
My Work Today
Today, I am a Mississippi-based artist whose primary focus is acrylic painting, while also maintaining a practice in photography and video. I earned my BFA from Mississippi State University in 2025 with a concentration in photography and minors in film studies and art history. I create my paintings with my feet, using angels as symbolic presences to explore emotional and psychological experiences that are often invisible to everyone else. Through this imagery, I explore themes of hope, protection, vulnerability, perseverance, isolation, and personal growth.
While painting is the foundation of my practice, my background in photography and video continues to influence how I think about composition, atmosphere, and visual storytelling. Across all mediums, I seek to create work that encourages reflection, connection, and a deeper understanding of the human experience.
Recent Articles and Features
• Catalyst VSA at the Kennedy Center
My work was included in the Kennedy Center’s national VSA Catalyst exhibition featuring disabled artists (June 2025).
• Kendrell Daniels – Student Gallery Feature
Showcase of my recent multidisciplinary work through Mississippi State University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Design (April 2025).
• Kendrell Daniels – Our People Feature
Spotlight on my creative practice and artistic journey by Mississippi State University (February 2025).
• Express Yourself! Art Auction
Coverage of the annual art auction hosted by MSU’s T.K. Martin Center where I began painting (April 2024).
• Artists With Disabilities Showcase
Feature on a community exhibition highlighting disabled artists, including my work (April 2024).
Earlier Coverage
In 2019, I was featured in a segment on ESPN through Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation. This story highlights how our connection inspired my work and brought wider attention to my art. Below are the video and articles from that time.