KIMPEDRO

Illustrator | Educator | Author | Drummer | Cultural Curator

Kimpedro is a multidisciplinary creative rooted in the culturally rich Spring Garden section of North Philadelphia. An award-winning illustrator, educator, author, drummer, and arts organizer, his life’s work reflects a seamless integration of visual art, music, spirituality, and community development.

His formal education in fine arts, advertising design, illustration, and graphics includes studies at the Thomas Eakins House, Fleisher Art Memorial, the former Philadelphia College of Art & Hussian School of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and The Society of Illustrators in New York. His artistic journey began early, when he received his first award at age seven through the juried “Clothesline Exhibit” in Rittenhouse Square and earned a scholarship to the prestigious Museum School of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

As a student, he interned in the design department at SmithKline & French under the guidance of artist Charles Johnson. He worked alongside graphic designer/illustrator Ruben A. Benson (WDAS radio station logos). These mentorships sharpened his design sensibilities and led to early achievements, including co-editing and illustrating the community newsletter and designing a poster for the transitioning Philadelphia Opera Company, which earned him his first feature in the Philadelphia Daily News. His second feature, in the Daily News, 15 years later, was for his “PaperBag Graphix” art exhibit in Northern Liberties’ Third Street Gallery. He also appeared with Ed Bradley on “60 Minutes” during a segment about Overbrook’s Art/ Humanities Magnet Program and the temporary residency of Joan Meyers Brown.

Musical Foundation & Performance Career

Kimpedro’s musical education began in his neighborhood, shaped by Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous rhythms. Formal instruction started at Julia Reynolds Masterman in the 70’s and expanded through Overbrook’s Arts Magnet Program, Lutheran Ministries Touring Performing Arts Program, St. John’s Music Settlement, private instruction, and extensive live performance experience.

He performed in numerous ensembles including TAZ (formerly Overnight Distress), Flight Crew, Mindgasm, Souls On Ice, Hip-Soul, and the Community College of Philadelphia Big Band under Dr. George Allen and Wayne Smith Sr. In 1993, he co-founded the JazGuardian Musician’s Organization with Dm Hotep (Jupiter Blue/Sun Ra Arkestra guitarist).

Kimpedro organized and led an ensemble with a string quartet that served as the house band for The Eagles’ Celebrity Auctions and Golf Tournaments for eight years. Through JazGuardian and later projects, he collaborated with clients including The Barristers Association, UNCF, Madam C.J. Walker Foundation, Women’s Black National Congress, Dawn Staley Foundation, One Hundred Concerned Black Men, WPVI Channel 6, WHYY, and numerous other civic and cultural organizations.

NU GRuV Network & Production Leadership

In 2012, Kimpedro founded The NU GRuV Network Artists’ Collective, a team of approximately 35 creatives who collaborate, educate, design, produce, consult, and troubleshoot diverse artistic projects throughout Philadelphia’s cultural ecosystem.

He has produced and co-produced more than a dozen successful events, including:

  • Transitions: Change Gonna’ Come

  • The Intersection of Jazz and Hip Hop

  • The Living Room Sessions

  • Spirits In The Dark

  • Four installments of Satellites Are Spinning: A Sizzling Sonic Celebration of Sun Ra

    These concerts were presented at venues including The Community Education Center, The Free Library of Philadelphia, The Barnes Foundation, Venice Island Performing Arts Center, Ardmore Music Hall, Johnny Brenda’s, and World Café Live—many selling out or reaching standing-room-only capacity. He also created the ‘HoodStock InnerCity Arts & Music Festival (2003–2015) in Spring Garden.

Additional work includes:

  • Production assistant for “Courtyard Fridays” (Staten Island, NY Council on the Arts)

  • Featured/supporting artist in the “Mysterious Traveler” Concert Series (Free Library & Philadelphia Jazz Project)

  • Jazz/R&B tribute production honoring Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, and Sade

  • Co-production of “A Visit From The King” (MLK tribute)

  • Studio session musician for The Remedy Project (featured on PBS “Movers & Shakers”)

  • Participant/musician in The Whitman at 200: Art and Democracy Project (University of Pennsylvania Libraries)

  • Drummer for We Shall: A Lyrical MLK Celebration and Sounds of the Revolution

  • Artistic Director of Spotlight On Jazz & Poetry Radio’s Live Concerts (2014-2025)

  • Producing Season 4: Sunset Music on the Porch Concert Series (Church of St Asaph, Bala Cynwyd - 2026)

Theatre & Touring Work

Kimpedro served as pit musician for stage plays including Beauty Monster and Walk In My Shoes. He collaborated with choreographer and interdisciplinary artist Raphael Xavier on Sassafrazz: Roots to Mastery, which evolved during the pandemic into The Musician and The Mover. The production held a residency at The Yard (Martha’s Vineyard), showcased at The Featherstone Art Center, premiered at New York Live Arts, and later appeared at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in Boston.

Visual Art & Publishing

Through his creative arts service, PaperBag Graphix, Kimpedro provides custom greeting cards, album art, murals, major illustrations, and design services. His illustration work appears in:

  • Philadelphia Jazz Stories – Volume 1 (Philadelphia Jazz Project)

  • Battery Man by Victoria Huggins Peurifoy

He is currently completing his second solo book project:

GODis The Ultimate Time Keeper: This Drummer’s Story
Featuring original stories, illustrations, and accompanying musical compositions (2027 scheduled release).
The sixth chapter from “GOD is The Ultimate….” or “The 6th Hour: Kimpedro’s Greatest Hits…& Other Cocaine Related Stories” was released in 2024, and in 2025, the pilot screenplay project with an original soundtrack -” The Dope Suite” debuted to an SRO audience. The music is embedded in the book via QR codes!

Cultural Leadership

  • Arts & Culture Coordinator for Francisville’s Cultural Corridor

  • Curator and performer at IPaM (Indigenous Peoples Artisan Marketplace)

  • Co-creator of “Jazzing On Ridge” Community Arts Festival

  • Creative Arts Recreation Specialist for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

  • Director for performing arts camps and youth arts programs

  • Decades of service in music ministries across multiple churches

  • Provides musical support for several urban gardens and farms across the region through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Neighborhood Garden Trusts

He continues to introduce school-age children to the creative arts, guiding them from exploration to full-stage performance in eight-week cycles across Philadelphia.

Performance Highlights

Kimpedro has performed at major venues including:

  • The Kimmel Center

  • Ardmore Music Hall

  • Philadelphia Museum of Art

  • The Barnes Foundation

  • The Mann Center for the Performing Arts

  • The Museum of the American Revolution

  • New York Live Arts

  • ICA Boston

  • Featherstone Center For The Arts (Martha’s Vineyard)

  • The Bitter End (NYC)

  • Clifford Brown Jazz Festival (Delaware)

  • PAFA

  • Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festival

  • West Oaklane Jazz Festival

  • South Jazz Kitchen

  • Lewis Arts Complex (Princeton)

  • Palmas Del Mar (Puerto Rico)

  • Residencies - Frangelica’s, Bluesettes, Blue Moon Jazz Club, Triumph Brewery

He has collaborated with Kendrah Butler Waters, Odean Pope, Tyrone Brown, Tony Jones, Sumi Tonooka, Bethlehem Roberson, Marcell Bellinger, and many others.

Artist Statement

“When you acknowledge GOD for being the Source of All Creativity, The Sky is Not the Limit!”

A VISIONARY SON OF PHILADELPHIA