Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bennord Lee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bennord, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I’ve taken has been deciding to create art again.

In 2015, I started to experience severe mental and emotional breakdowns. Life was life-ing something serious! Remnants of my traumatic childhood began to appear and manifested itself in night terrors and constant sleep paralysis. I felt like I was dying inside. I went to therapy to help navigate this new, yet oddly familiar space. Through therapy, I discovered my love for illustration. Every week, I drew or sketched the myriad of emotions I felt. By 2020, I created enough illustrations to curate my own portfolio. I was so proud of myself for the growth and committing to my new journey.

And then the world stopped. The dreaded pandemic. Living in Oakland during that time, I was determined to get back to the South where my family resided. During the move, my portfolio was lost by my movers. They found it in a box that was left behind on their truck. The movers shipped the box containing my portfolio via FedEx and I felt a sense of relief. My babies were finally on their way home! Daily I would check on the shipment status. No movement. After a week of tracking – FedEx confirmed that my package was lost. My package that included my 5 year portfolio of heartbreaking yet healing illustrations. Gone forever.

I was devastated. Completely unraveled. The one thing that healed me was taken, mishandled and lost. And what made it worse was FedEx took no accountability. No compensation was given. No apology.

I felt violated. It felt like emotional assault. It felt like my babies… my healing… my art.. my ability to create was gone forever. And so I succumbed to this sinking feeling. I gave up on art. No museum visits. No exhibitions. No creating my own art. Everything reminded me of the loss. And nothing around filled the void.

And then in 2025, a great friend of mine and fellow artist gifted me The Artist’s Way. A book for finding your creative voice. After the first chapter I realized that it’s time to take a risk. Risk reliving that hurt and pain of losing my art. Risk putting myself out there not knowing if I would be able to create. Risk facing the possibility that I’ve lost my desire to create.

I was up for it! I had nothing to lose. The Artist’s Way made me realize that creating is an act of God. God – the Creator, the universe or whoever you atone to- saw something so special in me that They blessed me with the ability to create something from nothing. To exhume my feelings and clearly depict them visually on a canvas.

Returning to my art was worth the risk! Throughout 2025, I dedicated myself back to my art. Now 30+ pieces in, I’ve been able to create masterful pieces of work that I am extremely proud of and excited to share. Every time I look at my work, I think… this was worth the risk.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

“I found my seed. I planted my seed. I watered and nurtured my seed. Now watch me grow… watch me bloom.” – Gumbeaux St. James

Originating from the bayous of Southeast Louisiana, Bennord “Gumbeaux St. James” Lee is a Houston-based self taught visual artist that leverages the intersection of STEM, art and metaphysical consciousness to exhume the learnings and universal messages of his lived experiences.

With his B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Gumbeaux merges his expertise in science with his knowledge of cosmic spirituality to showcase vivid portraiture in an abstract surrealist point of view.

Gumbeaux imbues his body, mind and spirit into each piece by meticulously finger smudging soft pastels and charcoal onto paper to create vibrant images expressing themes of self love, hope and divine alignment with the universe.

Although his preferred form of self expression and creativity is visual art, Gumbeaux also has mastery in the culinary arts as well as floral art design. With Cosmosis Meiosis serving as his artistic debut, Gumbeaux is actively creating art that builds upon the central theme of life’s journey of discovery.

“Art is ministry. It is the purest form of worship to the Divine. I am merely a vessel from which the Universe speaks. My hope is for my art to depict the challenges and triumphs of my life in a way that inspires the audience to find their seed.. to find the glory and beauty within themselves and others.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is when the audience sees themselves in what I’ve created. My goal is for my art to be a bridge across humanity. We are all different yet experience some of the same feelings. If someone can look at my art and see something familiar or feel something familiar – I’ve done my job.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Pay us! I’m not talking bartering work for exposure. I’m not talking apprenticeship. I’m talking MONEY!

Art is a visual documentation of history. Before the Rosetta Stone, there were drawings on the walls of caves. Before there were conquests of nations documented in scrolls, there were hieroglyphs on pyramids. What cannot be described in a book, can be depicted in an art piece.

Art has lasted far longer than any book. It speaks truth more pure than any orator. Art impacts more people than any form of decree or grand declaration. Those methods of passing down history are great.. but art stands alone.

Because of this impact, society can support creatives by simply paying the asking price. We deserve it. We earn it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: GumbeauxStJames

Image Credits

All photos taken by Gumbeaux St. James.

Artist photo (blue shirt, brown hat) – Terrell Swinton