Made From Scratch
October 5 – December 19, 2026
Mesquite Arts Center
Raymond Butler is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, storyteller, and curator from South Dallas whose work explores childhood memories, imagination, and nostalgia through painting, illustration, sculpture, and mixed media. In Made From Scratch, Butler presents a vibrant collection of works inspired by growing up in South Dallas during the 1990s, using food, pop culture, and everyday experiences as vehicles for storytelling.
At the heart of the exhibition is Sammy the Sandwich, a cartoon version of Butler as a child. Through Sammy's adventures, viewers are invited into stories shaped by neighborhood life, family traditions, favorite childhood foods, and the moments that helped define the artist's perspective. Bold colors, playful imagery, and whimsical compositions celebrate the creativity, humor, and resilience of youth while highlighting the power of memory and imagination.
Each artwork captures a unique chapter from Butler's childhood, yet together they form a larger narrative about identity, community, and belonging. Made From Scratch encourages visitors to reflect on their own formative experiences and rediscover the joy, comfort, and wonder found in the everyday moments that shape who we become.
Bio:
Raymond Butler is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, storyteller, and curator from South Dallas. His work explores childhood memories, imagination, and nostalgia through painting, illustration, sculpture, and mixed media. Centered around Sammy, a cartoon version of himself as a child, Butler uses food, pop culture, and everyday experiences to tell stories that connect personal memories with universal experiences of growing up. Through bold imagery and playful storytelling, his work invites viewers to reconnect with the creativity, wonder, and resilience of childhood.
Artist Statement:
Raymond Butler is a multidisciplinary artist whose work revisits his childhood growing up in South Dallas during the 1990s. His current body of work centers on nostalgic foods from his youth and a recurring character named Sammy the Sandwich. Sammy serves as a cartoon version of Raymond’s childhood self, guiding viewers through stories inspired by his life and experiences.
Each piece captures a snapshot of an adventure, exploring the small moments, favorite foods, neighborhood memories, family dynamics, and challenges that shaped his perspective of the world. Through vibrant colors and playful, exaggerated imagery, Butler recreates the humor, imagination, and resilience of those formative years.
While every artwork tells a different story, they all originate from the same place a deep connection to memory, community, and the experiences that helped shape who he is today.