Artist Biography: John Craig Flynn (1956–1994)

Born in Brooklyn, New York, John Craig “I.C.” Flynn was a gifted multidisciplinary artist whose work explored the intersections of identity, spirituality, and community during a transformative era for Black and queer life in America.

A prodigy from an early age, Flynn began formal art instruction at the Brooklyn Museum at just nine years old. He later attended the High School of Art and Design, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and the School of Visual Arts, developing a foundation that blended classical technique with bold experimentation. His practice expanded across painting, dance, music, and creative writing—each informing the other in a deeply interdisciplinary approach.

Throughout his career, Flynn worked in diverse creative fields, including fashion illustration, modeling, graphic design, acting, and dance. He performed with the renowned Chuck Davis Dancers and participated in DanceAfrica, a cultural touchstone celebrating African diasporic performance traditions.

In his visual art, Flynn combined vibrant color theory with spiritual symbolism, merging his personal journey with broader questions of faith, liberation, and self-definition. His teaching at Heritage House in Brownsville, Brooklyn, where he led workshops on “The Art of Living and the Science of Color,” reflected his belief in art as a tool for healing, education, and empowerment.

His first professional exhibition took place in 1981 at Baruch College, where he exhibited alongside acclaimed artists Romare Bearden and Abdur Rahman, marking his early recognition within New York’s Black artistic community. Flynn also wrote and produced a stage play, I Believe It Can Be Done, performed in Brownsville, Brooklyn, which spoke to themes of perseverance, hope, and collective transformation.

Flynn’s life was tragically cut short in 1994, during the height of the AIDS crisis—a loss felt not only by his family but by the many communities he inspired. His paintings, writings, and sketches remain as vivid testaments to a generation of Black queer artists whose contributions have yet to be fully seen, celebrated, or archived.

Statement by Quadir Ali Moore, Estate Representative & Creative Heir

As John Craig Flynn’s great nephew, I am honored to be the person bringing his legacy to life. Like my uncle, I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, where I began my own path as an artist and photographer. His creative courage and spiritual depth have always resonated with me and continue to influence my work today.

I have built my career in New York’s creative industry—working with BFA.com, The Whitney, The MET, MOMA, and collaborating with institutions such as NYU’s Center for Black Visual Culture—and I see it as both my personal mission and artistic responsibility to ensure that his story is finally told with the respect it deserves.

For decades, much of his art has remained unseen, partly due to family hesitation and the stigma surrounding his queerness during and after his lifetime. My goal is to restore, document, and present his work to the public—to museums, curators, and archives dedicated to preserving the stories of underrepresented Black and queer artists of the 20th century.

In doing so, I aim not only to celebrate his creative brilliance but to help rewrite the narrative of those lost to silence and neglect. His work is a part of our collective cultural memory—and it is time for it to be seen.