The artist has always painted the little girl to inspire people to live their dreams and reach higher in everything they do. He wanted to include her in the Peaceraiser to inspire all of us to harness the potential for power if we harness the peaceful nature of children.

Artist Bio:

Born in Ilo-Ilo City, Philippines, AJ Lavilla was introduced to art at the age of eleven when he first used an airbrush.  AJ, who moved to New York with his family when he was 13, is a self taught visual artist. He has learned his trade by observing, reading and studying the works of his favorite artists including Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mr. Brainwash, Kaws and Murakami. After resigning from his job in the medical field to focus on his art, AJ was evicted from his apartment in Queens, New York.  This experience was “one of the major obstacles” in his life and career, but he also sees this experience as the turning point of his life; an experience that helped elevate his spirit and work to a whole new level. AJ’s work can be identified by its vivid colors encompassing a nostalgic feeling through the incorporation of vintage cartoon characters from comic books, luxury brands and pop culture. He describes his work as “a mix of organized chaos that contains elegance through bold colors.” He hopes “to inspire the next generation to pursue their dreams, be passionate with what they do” and he wants the audience viewing his work to take away the same message from his art. AJ is grateful to have been able to spread this message at the World Trade Center, and around the world.