We recently connected with Shani Zuberi and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Shani, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I truly believe that my creative career began at exactly the right time—it’s been with me since birth. Every experience, whether it felt like a success, a failure, or a pause, has shaped who I am creatively. Those pauses weren’t setbacks; they were signals to redirect my attention, guiding me to explore new paths, people, and passions. Being homeschooled played a huge role in shaping my creative journey. It allowed me to tailor my learning to what truly resonated with me, like when I turned my English class into a study on poetry from the Black feminine perspective. That experience gave me the freedom to dive deep into what I wanted to learn while opening me up to perspectives I might never have encountered otherwise. If I had been in a public or private school, that version of Shani feels like a parallel universe I can’t fully imagine. My creative path might have been very different, and I wouldn’t trade the autonomy and insight I gained for anything. I see life as a film constantly in production—always looking for cast and crew. Knowing when to grasp the best actors, actresses, production assistants, set photographers, and everyone else who will make your life beautiful is crucial. Equally important is knowing when to cut the people and things that aren’t benefiting the process. This has shaped my approach not just to creativity, but to life itself. Looking back, I don’t wish I had started sooner or later—it happened at the perfect time, because my life experiences were the key ingredients that shaped my voice and vision. In the creative field, I don’t believe anything should be rushed. If you don’t clearly see what you’re rushing toward, it’s better to sit with that creative shadow of inspiration, keeping it warm and lit. Wait for the ember that strikes so fiercely it ignites your heart, and then you’ll know it’s time to move forward.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello, my name is Shani Zuberi. I am native to Sacramento, a place where I learned to embrace the contradiction of having a logical mind paired with a hopelessly poetic heart. I am a multi-disciplinary artist, weaving together life, death, identity, and the quiet moments that live in the shadows. My work is rooted in the undeniable truth of my Blackness, the reality of mortality, and the vulnerability that comes from holding both in my hands. I navigate this world with diabetes and queerness, and my art reflects the tangled complexity of these identities. I have always believed in bringing forth the whispered things—the ones that people shy away from speaking out loud. Often, society tries to hush the words, “Oh, you’re Black,” or “Oh, you’re queer,” as though these parts of my identity are meant to be softened, muted, hidden. But I will not soften. Yes, I am Black. Yes, I am queer. I am a bit awkward, and at times a bit too much, and I love that about myself. I refuse to live in the shadows of quiet rooms where parts of me are shushed. My art lives in the space between death and life—the messy, vibrant in-between that we all walk through. I explore these themes because they are what connect us, even when we try to hide from them. Sometimes I feel like a beginner in this journey, inexperienced in the technical, but my emotional landscape is rich and deep, and that is where I draw from in my work. What sets me apart is my willingness to dive headfirst into those uncomfortable, deeply human spaces and embrace them fully. I create art that does not hide but stands boldly in the sun. My work reflects the personal struggles and triumphs of my life, but it also speaks to the universal need to be seen, to be vulnerable, to be fully oneself. I take those whispered moments—my queerness, my diabetes, my insecurities—and make them loud, unapologetic, and present. I am most proud of this: that my art has become a vessel for owning who I am, in all my layered existence. I hope my work inspires others to embrace their own truths, to let go of the need for perfection, and to stand in their full, beautiful complexity. In my artistic practice, I work across several mediums—mixed media, digital art, ceramics, painting, poetry, and writing. Every piece is a conversation between me, my emotions, and the materials I work with. Mixed media allows me to blend textures and layers that wouldn’t normally come together, while ceramics and painting root me in the physical world, connecting me to the present moment. Poetry and writing give me the freedom to express what I sometimes can’t fully capture visually, allowing me to dig deeper into the core of what I want to say. I am also launching my production company, Dream Hare Productions—with “Hare” like the rabbit, because I see myself as a sleepy little bunny, creating beautiful things even in my quiet moments. I may be resting, but I’m multiplying ideas, building fluffy, whimsical projects without even realizing it. Dream Hare is about producing works that reflect parts of me I may not always speak about, but that I am proud to show through my creations. One of the projects I’m working on through Dream Hare is a film called The Umbrella, which explores themes of self-discovery and transformation through surreal storytelling. In addition to my visual art, I have joined pageantry as a way to promote diabetic awareness. It’s a platform where I can merge beauty, confidence, and activism—showing others that diabetes doesn’t define limits, but rather shapes a powerful story of resilience and strength. Through this work, I hope to challenge stereotypes and inspire others living with diabetes to take pride in their bodies and their stories. Film, to me, is a language—a way to speak without words. Through Dream Hare Productions, I hope to explore stories that reflect not only my own journey but those of others whose voices have often been left unheard. I want my work to be a conversation, a connection, a spark that reminds us we are all walking the same path, no matter how different it may seem. At the heart of everything I create, the message is clear: my art is raw, real, and deeply personal. I’m not creating just to create—I’m creating to reflect life in all its messy beauty. I want to help people feel seen, to give voice to the stories we often leave unsaid, and to create spaces where we can all be our most authentic selves.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
The art style of Vanitas, with its focus on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, feels deeply connected to what it means to live with diabetes. Every day, we diabetics confront our mortality and limitations. We learn to manipulate the resources we have, creating something meaningful from what is often seen as a struggle. In this way, I see all diabetics as artists. We reshape our lives, finding a balance between survival and decline. We work with what we’re given, whether it’s insulin, time, or energy. It’s a constant act of resourcefulness, requiring both precision and creativity. My journey with diabetes has not only given me resilience but also strengthened my determination to keep building it. Each day presents new challenges that test my limits, but it also deepens my resolve to adapt and grow stronger. Managing diabetes has become both a test and a lesson in fortitude, teaching me how to navigate the highs and lows while finding ways to express that experience through my art. Many of us live like starving artists, creating tirelessly yet often unrecognized. Some of us fade away, our efforts and struggles unseen. But I refuse to fade quietly. I don’t want to simply disappear without leaving a mark—I want to burn something down before I go. My work, my voice, and my presence will be felt, loud and fierce, before the world moves on. This perspective shapes everything I create. The exhaustion and burnout from diabetes are always present, but so is the fire—the drive to ensure that I don’t slip into the background unnoticed. Through my art, I aim to bring attention to life with diabetes and to create a lasting impact, a legacy that endures long after I’m gone.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
One thing I think non-creatives might struggle to understand about my journey is the constant push and pull between passion and practicality. Being creative isn’t just about inspiration or having a great idea—it’s about working tirelessly to bring that idea to life, even when the world around you isn’t designed to support that process. For me, that push and pull is intensified by the fact that I’m not just navigating a creative career; I’m also managing a chronic illness. Non-creatives might see the end product—an art piece, a film, or a project—but what they don’t always see is the emotional and physical labor behind it. They might not understand the way creative work is often undervalued or how challenging it can be to get recognition for something so deeply personal. They might not grasp the quiet battles with doubt, or in my case, with the limitations that diabetes imposes on me. What non-creatives may also struggle to understand is that my work isn’t just something I do—it’s a part of who I am. Creating is how I make sense of the world, how I express my identity, my struggles, and my resilience. It’s not something I can turn off or compartmentalize. My creative process is deeply intertwined with my life as a diabetic, a queer Black woman, and someone constantly seeking to carve out space for herself in an industry that doesn’t always make room for people like me. But at the same time, that struggle has taught me resilience and resourcefulness. The challenges don’t stop me—they fuel me. They push me to keep finding ways to express myself, to connect with others, and to use my art as a tool for change. Non-creatives might not fully understand that, but hopefully, through my work, they can begin to see how much passion, strength, and heart goes into every piece I create.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shani.zuberi/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075901710754
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shani-zuberi-42240611a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DreamHarePro
Image Credits
Lolita Vasquez – Image Society