BE HEARD Vol. 8
Johnfredrick Daniels: Creating Through Chaos
The Early Sparks of Expression
Before gallery walls and murals colored Buffalo’s streets, there was a young boy on the East Side trying to find silence in the noise. Johnfredrick, known by many as FredzDaArtist, grew up in a home where tension and arguing were a regular backdrop. For him, art wasn’t a pastime—it was an escape route. “Drawing and building was how I escaped. I didn’t need Lego instructions—I just created,” he shared.
In a world that felt overwhelming and unpredictable, Johnfredrick turned inward. Crayons, pastels, watercolors, Lincoln Logs—anything he could use to build or design became a tool for coping. “You’re in a house with chaos, yelling, and pain—so you find something else to pour your focus into,” he said.
While other kids were outside or locked into cartoons, Johnfredrick was sketching, constructing, and daydreaming about what could be. He was finding his voice long before he knew he’d need it. These acts of creation were more than expression—they were survival. A form of meditation before he ever knew the word. In those quiet sessions with paper and color, he learned how to channel emotion and transform internal storms into something visual.
What began as a mental refuge evolved into a skill, and that skill matured into a message. But like most meaningful growth, the path forward wouldn’t be linear.
Military, Mental Health & The Turning Point
Straight out of high school, Johnfredrick joined the military through the split-option program. With both parents having served and a deep respect for discipline and responsibility, the path felt like the right one. For a time, the uniform gave him structure—the kind he never had growing up.
But discipline doesn’t always heal what’s beneath the surface. As Johnfredrick transitioned from military service back to civilian life, the emotional weight grew heavier. Grief, a painful miscarriage, and divorce added layers to what he was already carrying.
“I tried to commit suicide,” he shared with raw honesty. “Everything was crashing. I thought the world was ending, and I was just ready to go.”
Instead of giving in, Johnfredrick turned to the one thing that had always brought him peace—art. This time, it wasn’t just an escape. It was a lifeline.
With support from mental health resources and a personal commitment to healing, he found his rhythm again. “I started one piece at a time. Start it. Finish it. That became my new process,” he said. “It saved my life.”
Painting became therapy. Creating became clarity. Each canvas was proof that he still had something meaningful to give—to himself, and eventually, to others.
Creating Without the Chaos
Much of JohnFredrick’s early work was born out of pain. But with healing came a question: could he still create without the chaos?
“That was one of the scariest things,” he admitted. “Could I still paint when I wasn’t miserable?”
The answer was yes. The fire didn’t disappear—it transformed. With clarity and purpose, Johnfredrick began creating from a deeper, more grounded place. “Now I paint with intention. I get up every day like it’s a job. I clock in for myself.”
His art is now influenced by peace, family, and responsibility. As a father, Johnfredrick raises his children with creativity at the center—modeling a life where healing and purpose can coexist. His process has become more than survival—it’s become a legacy.
For Johnfredrick, owning a gallery was never about ego—it was about purpose. He envisioned a space where art could heal, connect, and uplift. A space for those who never felt like they belonged in traditional art circles. Something rooted in the community that would outlive him.
That dream stayed alive through his darkest moments. Whether navigating military life, personal heartbreak, or raising his children, the vision of a creative sanctuary never faded. “I always believed I’d have a gallery, even when I didn’t know how or when,” he said.
Years of creating without recognition, pouring into Buffalo through murals and free art events, eventually opened a door. That door led to The Gallery at Seneca—a space on Buffalo’s South Side that gave his vision a permanent home.
The moment he walked in, he saw potential. “It felt like God aligned everything. I knew I had to take care of it,” he said.
Today, The Gallery at Seneca is a heartbeat in Buffalo’s creative scene—hosting youth workshops, live painting sessions, exhibitions, and intimate community events, all rooted in intention and access.
Johnfredrick also plans to grow the gallery into a hub for after-school programming where youth can explore art, entrepreneurship, and self-expression. “There’s so much talent in these kids—they just need access,” he said. His mission is to provide mentorship, build confidence, and show young people their creativity matters.
Rooted in Community: The Mission Behind the Murals
For Johnfredrick, painting murals isn’t about leaving a mark—it’s about leaving meaning. His public art exists to speak, comfort, and reflect the people who see it every day. Whether on Jefferson Avenue in the wake of a tragedy or in a neighborhood celebrating local pride, every mural begins with intention.
When Buffalo was grieving after the Tops tragedy, Johnfredrick didn’t wait for permission. He showed up with a paintbrush and purpose. “I didn’t need all the tools—I just knew I had to do something,” he said.
His murals are more than art—they’re invitations. Invitations to feel, to gather, and to remember. Each one is layered with story, rooted in Black identity, healing, and collective strength.
He also sees murals as teaching tools. At community events, he invites youth to watch or participate in the process. It’s about empowering the next generation to tell their own stories—and see value in where they come from.
Fatherhood & Mentorship: Building the Next Generation
Fatherhood and mentorship aren’t side notes in Johnfredrick’s life—they’re central to his mission. At home, he teaches his children that creativity is not just talent, but a language of truth. He encourages them to trust their voices, to stay curious, and to lead with integrity.
In the community, he does the same. Whether mentoring a young artist at the gallery or sharing wisdom at a mural event, Johnfredrick pours into others the way he once needed someone to pour into him.
“Sometimes, the biggest thing you can do for a kid is make them feel seen,” he said.
Through art, conversation, and consistency, Johnfredrick is planting seeds of belief in the youth he serves—reminding them that their creativity is valid, their emotions matter, and their stories deserve to be told.
Advice to the Next Generation
“If everything was paid for, what would you do? That’s what you should be doing. Separate the money from it and just create. That’s when the magic happens.”
Johnfredrick doesn’t romanticize the grind, but he does believe in owning your story. “Your journey might be the reason someone else keeps going.”
For him, success isn’t loud—it’s intentional. It’s built through discipline, healing, and showing up for yourself even when no one is watching.
Closing Thoughts
Johnfredrick’s journey isn’t about chasing attention. It’s about creating with care—and using every struggle as soil for something bigger.
What he’s built is more than an art career. It’s a legacy grounded in truth, creativity, and connection. Whether painting murals after community tragedies, mentoring youth, raising his children with intention, or building opportunities through The Gallery at Seneca—Johnfredrick is showing what it means to live with purpose.
He’s not just making art. He’s making space—for healing, for expression, and for people to see themselves as creators of their own story.
He’s also challenging himself to grow beyond city limits. A recent show in D.C. pushed him outside his comfort zone—bringing his work to a new audience and proving that his story resonates beyond Buffalo. It reminded him that healing and purpose don’t have borders—they expand as far as you’re willing to go.
In a world rushing toward the next big thing, Johnfredrick’s work reminds us to slow down. Build with care. And create with intent.
“We are the creators of now. Let’s create with intent.”
