David Le Batard (Lebo)

David Le Batard, known professionally as Lebo, was born in New York City in 1972 to Cuban immigrant parents and raised in South Florida, where Cuban art profoundly influenced his creative vision. From childhood, he was captivated by cartoons and dedicated himself to mastering archaic brush techniques, ancient calligraphy, and classic cartoon drawing. After graduating from Florida International University in 1995, he took residency at the International Museum of Cartoon Art in Boca Raton, Florida, where he lectured on illustration techniques.
Lebo’s breakthrough came in 1996 with his first public exhibit at Johnson & Wales University. He calls his distinctive approach Postmodern Cartoon Expressionism, blending abstract imagery, cartoon drawing, bold colors, and calligraphy into narrative compositions that convey emotion and story. Inspired by ancient storytelling, comic strips, and 1970s street art, he weaves together historic and cross-cultural symbols to show how culture connects through time. His work is characterized by gestural lines, condensed color fields, and themes of inner peace and spiritual enlightenment.
In 2003, Lebo created the official artwork for the Latin Grammy Awards. He has painted alongside The Beastie Boys and created murals in Wynwood, Florida, Calle Ocho, the American Airlines Arena, Hart Plaza in Detroit, Orleans Parish Juvenile Courthouse, and Hotel des Artes in San Francisco. He was commissioned to paint the hull artwork for the cruise ship Norwegian Getaway in 2014 and created a mural for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final Draw. Lebo is represented by Park West Gallery.