Artistic talents set Jerry Lawler on path to become Memphis wrestling icon

Feature profile for The Commercial Appeal

Dec. 18, 2011

Jerry Lawler is known for his antics, bravado and showmanship in the wrestling ring, locally for years on Saturday morning and Monday night wrestling, and internationally for World Wrestling Entertainment.

The flashy character, with his king’s crown and single-strap unitard, is a difficult image to reconcile with the Lawler who quietly spends time at a drafting table, working in pen and ink, pencil and oil paints on images of Superman, Batman and Santa Claus. Yet the latter Lawler is the original Lawler, and it’s his artwork that led him to be a star on the wrestling circuit.

“I was 4 or 5 years old when I started drawing, and one of the reasons I feel indebted to Superman is that was one of the first things I remember drawing,” Lawler said. “I would draw Superman and Batman all the time. When I realized that some people actually make a career out of art, I thought at the time that that’s something I’d really like to do.”

A recent showing of his artwork at Yalo Studio in Water Valley, Miss., drew nearly 500 people and sold almost $5,000 worth of art. His work will be shown Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at The Booksellers of Laurelwood.

Lawler grew up in Ohio, Brownsville, Tenn., and Memphis.

He was born to a father who grew up on a farm, worked on the assembly line in the Ford Motor Co. plant and couldn’t read or write, and a housekeeper mother. Lawler’s parents encouraged him in his artwork as he spent time drawing Superman and other comic book heroes that continue to inspire to this day … (read more)