ORLANDO, Fla. — Artists of all ages have their work on display inside the Terrace Gallery at Orlando City Hall to celebrate Black History Month.

Valencia College student Ali Bandele, 19, said he has been drawing ever since he can remember — creating pieces to help tell stories. Now, two of his drawings are on display at the city’s Black Heritage Month Art Exhibit.

“I just kinda just started drawing ever since I was a kid, shapes, smaller faces and then I noticed, I guess, I was really good at it,” Bandele said.

Many of his pieces shine a light on historical events, like the story of July Perry, one of many people killed in the Ocoee massacre. Historians say Perry was shot and lynched on election night of November 2, 1920.

“The information gotta get out somehow, so I’m glad I can do it,” said Bandele.

Bandele also highlights the story of his great-uncle Ako Bandele, who he said ‘represents everything we should be.’

“He grows his own food, and that is something I always wanted to do,” Bandele said. “I feel like he represents everything we should be.”

“This is a representative of my ancestors, cause I’m not all here by myself,” he added. “I’m what we call, ‘I’m one of we.’”

Bandele believes the portraits of his great-uncle and Perry next to each other help tell the overall story of the African-American people.

“It shows where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going,” Bandele said. “Through him, we are going.

For the young artist, it is surreal to see his work and these stories on display.

“I’m still taking it in. I was not expecting this to happen at all,” he said.

His work along with the other pieces will be on display through April 30.