Achille “A.J.” Barbel is a multidisciplinary artist and designer with a passion for visual storytelling. Born in St. Thomas, USVI, and raised in Florida and Chicago, A.J. developed a keen eye for detail early on, using art as both a creative outlet and a means of expression.

With an Associate of Fine Arts from Valencia College and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Media Arts from Southern New Hampshire University, he merges traditional illustration with digital craftsmanship. Inspired by artists like Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Pablo Picasso, his work often incorporates symbolism—subtle or bold—to provoke thought and emotion.

A.J. believes that art, like life, is open to interpretation, and his mission is to create work that resonates. As writer Cesar Cruz once said, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”