Hybrid Bob (2019) is a commissioned sculptural painting by artist Dinorah Delfin that reimagines the iconic figure of Bob Marley through an innovative technique combining relief, abstraction, and symbolism. Crafted from laser-cut lightweight materials, meticulously hand-assembled, painted, and sealed with a glossy epoxy finish, the artwork blurs the line between painting and sculpture. The pixelated surface forms a fragmented yet cohesive portrait, inviting viewers to navigate between perception and materiality.

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The choice of black and white, contrasted with a bold gold frame, reflects themes of duality — light and dark, past and present, challenge and transcendence — while honoring Marley's universal legacy as a cultural icon and messenger of social change.

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The work’s dimensionality is both aesthetic and conceptual, mirroring the layers of identity, history, and emotion that Marley embodies. From a distance, the portrait appears unified, but upon closer inspection, viewers discover its construction: individual “pixels” coming together to form a whole — a visual metaphor for the collective nature of our cultural heritage and the human condition.

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This piece is part of Delfin's ongoing series of HYBRID PORTRAIT commissions, where classical iconography meets digital techniques to challenge traditional representation.

By fusing craftsmanship, technology, and symbolism, Hybrid Bob becomes more than a portrait — it invites reflection on the multiplicity of meanings and the enduring relevance of the legendary Bob Marley.

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Ruben Brown, a nine-time Pro Bowler and Buffalo Bills Wall of Famer, is also a devoted philanthropist and advocate for the arts, whose enduring commitment to community and culture resonates far beyond the football field.