Justice May was born on 1 March 1968 in Pretoria. He attended a technical college and subsequently started an apprenticeship as an electrician when his career plans were thwarted by a diving accident at the age of eighteen. He injured his spinal cord at C5/C6 and as a consequence remained paralysed. Hardly 2 years later, he started painting with his mouth and then with oil colours on canvas and aquarelle colours. Since the beginning of his artistic career, he has attended several courses with famous art teachers. In 1989, Justice May was granted a stipend by the association. As a consequence, his works were presented to the public at different exhibitions.
Since his AMFPA membership, he has tirelessly represented South Africa in America where his works were awarded several prizes. In 1995, he was accepted as an Associate Member of the association. In 2000, he received Full Membership. Justice May is a member of the South African artists association as well. The highlight of his artistic career was in 1999 when he offered Nelson Mandela one of his portraits, painted with his mouth. With this gift, Justice May received a lot of media coverage.
