Born and raised in Houston, Texas during the turbulent 50's, Alvin Roy is a product of the Civil Rights transformation that swept through the United States. His parents fought against the South's Jim Crow laws and preserved family traditions dating back from before the Civil War, leaving Alvin with a strong historic legacy that informs and strengthens his art. 

 After graduating from Houston Technical Institute, Alvin Roy studied at Pratt Institute in New York, before enlisting with the United States Marine Corps at the end of the war in Vietnam.

 Alvin Roy's time in the Marine Corps allowed him to travel internationally and learn new cultural art traditions and techniques.  While stationed in Okinawa, Roy learned traditional Japanese watercolor techniques from a local master. With this meditative practice, each artwork embodied a soul that transcended its medium.

 Apart from his extensive art career, Alvin Roy advocates for the abilities of teenagers and young adults who have special needs and provides professional mainstream art experiences through his non-profit, 1-On-1 Art, Inc. The focus and objective of this organization is to provide neurodiverse young adults with an opportunity to explore art as a means of creative expression within a supportive and inclusive environment.