We Dem Boys

Artwork Details and Purchase Information
Original artwork is ink on 11 × 15 inch archival watercolor paper, framed and matted in a standard black frame
Giclée print is an 11 × 15 inch archival watercolor paper reproduction, framed and matted in a standard black frame, and part of a limited edition of 7
Originals, if available, and giclée prints may be purchased in person or directly at LakeemWilson.com
Orders ship within 5 to 7 business days
Local pickup can be scheduled after purchase
 
We Dem Boys
 
This illustration captures a moment of brotherhood frozen in motion, where youth gather not for spectacle, but for belonging. Bodies lean into one another, arms draped casually, faces layered with confidence, curiosity, and guarded vulnerability. The composition feels tight and crowded on purpose, reflecting how space is shared among boys who grow up learning closeness as both protection and identity.
 
The looseness of the ink lines mirrors the energy of the group. Each figure carries a distinct posture and expression, yet none stand alone. The title speaks to a collective declaration, a phrase often said half joking, half serious, signaling pride, resilience, and survival. These boys are aware of themselves as a unit, shaped by their environment and by each other.
 
We Dem Boys functions as a visual record of Black boyhood as it exists before labels, before narratives harden. It honors the raw stage of becoming, where friendship is armor and presence is power. Through ink and gesture, the piece preserves a moment of unity that many recognize not as a memory, but as a lived truth.