Leo Ransom shares his transformative journey from being in the wrong place at the wrong time to becoming an accomplished portrait quilter who channels his experiences of prejudice and hardship into creating meaningful art.

• Started quilting at 16 and progressed from traditional to portrait quilting
• Learned resilience after being arrested by association with drug dealers despite being innocent
• Faces ongoing racial profiling and prejudice as a Black quilter in Texas
• Developed a philosophy of patience and dignity when confronting discrimination
• Found his voice through portrait quilting that captures subjects' essence
• Married to a white man and found acceptance in their church community
• Uses his art to process societal trauma, particularly during difficult periods like the George Floyd murder
• Aims to expand charitable work creating quilts for children in homeless shelters
• Discovered his grandmother was a quilter only years after starting himself
• Graduated college at 50 after life circumstances interrupted his education

"Don't ever say that you can't; say that you can, jump in with both feet and see what happens."

Follow Leo on Instagram @lions_den_quilting

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