We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashshahid Muhammad. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashshahid below.

Ashshahid, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects I ever worked on was creating art to help benefit the homeless people in our community. Experiencing homelessness myself, I know what it feels like to go without anything. So I designed a system that is a part of Graffiti University Comics profit for homeless individuals. Every time someone purchases our comic books a small percentage goes toward someone in need. From meals, socks, underwear, shoes, etc we put a priceless smile on their faces. Once I learned how powerful art can be to the world, my passion to share it with others was phenomenal. There are many more meaningful projects in my career but helping people in need is my favorite.

Ashshahid, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Ashshahid Muhammad. I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. At a young age, I was hustling on the streets of South Memphis. By 11, I started going to several juvenile centers and group homes. Years of incarceration I struggled to find my way. By age 21, I was shot in my head and right arm losing my right eye. After years of depression, drug addiction, and homelessness I sought help. Seeking my Higher Power (Allah), my life changed for the better. I went back to school and got my G.E.D. Thanks to my favorite teacher Kenjila Hammonds. From there I enrolled in a college for art. While in college I learned all the principles of art. From there I took my art skills to the next level. I started traveling to schools and community centers using my art to educate our youth. Mentoring with art about drugs, bullying, gangs, guns, and jails has become a blueprint for my organization. Through my experiences, my art and concepts set me apart from others. Coming through the struggles I had to face in life, I’m very proud of myself and what I have accomplished so far in life. From my life experiences, I want the world to know that life will hit you with difficulties. That can be very painful but there is hope in that pain.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative: Being different in my own way makes my experience of art special. In my art career, I studied other artists for inspiration and knowledge. But I always strive to create something different from others. Many artists try to copy other artist’s styles but I want my own language in the art world. Another rewarding aspect I get from being an artist is looking at the world from an artistic perspective. Especially looking up into the pretty blue sky with such amazing clouds. I sometimes sketch on paper from clouds what I see and later use in my projects I have for later purposes. I can go on and on about the amazing rewards I get from being a creative artist. But the one that sticks out the most is the expression people have on their faces when they ask me did I created that!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Goals and Mission that drive my art journey, Top goal is to produce as much art as possible but at a very high level. Use my art to change the conditions around me. In the long run, I hope my art and books inspire others to be great. Keep helping homeless people all over the world through my art. Continuing to mentor our youth about drugs, bullying, gangs, guns, and jails. *What drives my creative journey? The feeling I get from within when I create something words can not define it. I just know that the more I do creatively the better I get and I’m curious to see what I can do next!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @_g.u.c.b
• Facebook: @graffitiuniversitycomics
• Twitter: @_graff
• Youtube: graffitiuniversitycomics
• Other: All comic books are available at Lulu.com & Amazon.com

Image Credits
Graffiti University Comics