DL Warfield is a multidisciplinary artist, cultural architect, and creative visionary whose career has spanned over three decades, leaving an unmistakable imprint on the worlds of fine art, design, music, and popular culture. His work is not just art to be observed, but culture to be experienced—bold, disruptive, and deeply tied to the evolving story of America.
A native of St. Louis and graduate of Washington University with a BFA in Painting, Warfield has consistently pushed boundaries across mediums. From early exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center and the Society of Illustrators in New York to recent solo shows such as The DOPE SHOW STL and cultural installations like DEEP COVERS at the Atlanta Mayor’s Office, his trajectory is a testament to both longevity and reinvention. His work has appeared in prestigious museums and collections across the country, including The Legacy Museum (Birmingham), The National Museum of African American Music (Nashville), Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ford Motor Company, and the Trap Music Museum in Atlanta.
Warfield’s practice is as wide-ranging as it is impactful. His AmericanFlagRemix™ series reimagines the U.S. flag through mixed media, interrogating history, race, and national identity, while his DOPE and Cypher series honor the visual and rhythmic DNA of hip-hop culture. These works—layered with social commentary, satire, and symbolism—are collected by cultural icons such as Usher, T.I., Dave Chappelle, Scooter Braun, Future, Cam Newton, and Andruw Jones, as well as institutions like Vans, Hennessy, and the United States Golf Association.
Beyond the studio, Warfield’s cultural reach is unmatched. As creative director for LaFace Records during its golden era, he shaped the visual identities of global superstars including OutKast, TLC, Pink, Usher, and Michael Jackson. His design work for OutKast’s ATLiens and TLC’s Fanmail remain some of the most iconic album visuals of the hip-hop and R&B canon. In 1996, he was commissioned as an official artist for the Atlanta Olympic Games, producing work that celebrated sport and global unity. His creative direction has influenced projects generating over $800 million in music sales and campaigns for Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas, HBO, Heineken, Sprite, and DreamWorks.
His public art and cultural commissions have further solidified his role as a chronicler of Black excellence and American culture. He designed the monuments for the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, created environmental design for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s historic national summit, and produced the signature branding for both YouTube’s 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop (50 Deep) and the Atlanta Falcons’ Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary celebration. Warfield has also served as co-curator of Atlanta’s Trap Music Museum and continues to sit on the Board of Georgia Tech’s College of Design.
For his influence, Warfield has been honored with numerous awards, including the Exceptional Influencer Award from the Mayor of Atlanta, the Who’s Who in Black Atlanta Visionary Leadership Award, and recognition from Timberland, Bacardi, and Hennessy for his creative leadership.
What defines Warfield’s career is not only his prolific output, but also his ability to bridge worlds—fine art and commercial art, pop culture and social commentary, legacy and futurism. He has exhibited internationally at Art Basel in Miami, curated museum experiences, and created installations that double as cultural landmarks. His voice remains unapologetically rooted in the Black American experience, expressed with a global perspective and a restless pursuit of the new.