The life of Tyrell Thompson – an accomplished artist with a gift for friendship–ended abruptly last Wednesday, June 8, when he was shot by a stranger trying to steal his wallet. He was 29.
After graduating from Hazelwood East High School, Thompson – known to his friends as “Rell Finesse” – studied for three years at the Art Institute of Santa Monica and then continued his studies at Webster University, pursuing a degree in graphic design.
He was a nurturing role model for his family and friends, and his home and studio provided a safe haven for fellow artists. His home exuded love and warmth and a fostered a feeling of togetherness.
The art that covered his walls was vibrant, full of imagination and color – a parallel to his life. His love for cartoons and anime was ever-present in his skillful, witty work. He painted Power Ranger helmets onto basketball players and voluptuous women.
Rell’s father, Tyrone Thompson, was a policeman who himself had been murdered, yet he loved and respected his city that is plagued with violence. “Don’t give up on your dreams for St Louis,” he often said about the same city that eventually took his life.
His optimism was a constant. He possessed the unique ability to bring out the best in the people he cared the most about.
“Although seven years apart in age, we fostered a friendship that transcended both space and time,” said John Greene. “Our friendship did not exist because of the commonalities that we shared, but because of the things that made us distinct and different. These distinct differences rendered me almost speechless in one of the last moments I was fortunate enough to share with him.”
That night, Greene picked up Rell and they went to a hip-hop event in South City.
“The performance was over, and people are slowly filing out of the event space,” Greene said. “I am standing around, passing out flyers to promote an upcoming event that I curated. Too introverted and shy to pass the flyers out to everyone, I intentionally overlook a group of people standing across from me. Rell witnesses how reserved I am and asks me, ‘Why don’t you go invite them?’”
Green gave his friend excuses why he couldn’t. Rell wasn’t hearing it.
“This next moment is what truly makes me marvel at his genius and his spirit,” Greene said.
“Tyrell takes one of the flyers, puts it in his back pocket and goes over to the group of people. He stands there talking to the party for several minutes before he returns to me with his beaming smile and says, ‘Yeah, man. They’re coming!’ This is what made Tyrell unique. This is what made Tyrell a rarity. This is what made Tyrell beautiful.”
Rell challenged his friends to grow and led by example.
“His actions showed you that he cared and he wanted you to live beyond your present state,” Greene said. “He saw where you were but he also saw where you could be and he would do whatever he could to help you get there. One could not quantify a spirit and energy as extraordinary as his.”
Morgan Bradley is an editorial intern for The St. Louis American.
In memory of Rell
Tyrell Thompson’s family is crowd-funding a co-working art space in his name, the Finesse Center, that will replicate the famous “Wall” from Tyrell’s loft.
“The space will be a place for artists to gather and work together to create, just like they did in Tyrell’s place,” the family writes.
“A lot of people not only lost a great friend when Tyrell passed, but lost their creative hub and are now without a space to gather, fellowship, and work. Help us make a place Tyrell would be proud to call his own.”
For more information and to contribute, visit https://www.gofundme.com/28wqrydg.
