Make Art . Not War

Shabazz Larkin is an artist, writer, and speaker based in Nashville who presents talks, panels, and guided meditations exploring art, mindfulness, creativity, culture, and technology. His presentations combine storytelling, spiritual practice, and contemporary creative work to open conversations about presence, fatherhood, book making, Buddhism, and the future of art in an age of artificial intelligence.

2026 Acrylic and various materials on carved wood panels, 7'x9'

Museum of Presence is a multimedia storytelling project by artist Shabazz Larkin connecting a print magazine and podcast that document artists and cultural voices shaping Nashville.

2022 Mixed Media, Polyester Textiles, Ribbon, Cowry shells, hung on hooks. 43x65"

Seattle, Washington - 2021 - In the summer of 2021, I packed my kids onto a plane and went to Seattle to spend the season working inside the Amazon Spheres.

Music City Pillar, Nashville Tennessee

Portrait of Justin Jones, 2025 Acrylic on canvas

Music City Pillar, Nashville Tennessee

Illustrations and cover design by Nashville artist Shabazz Larkin for the Folio Society edition of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Award-winning artwork interpreting one of the most important memoirs in American literature.

Moquette Sculpture 2024, Bronze statue & Marble plinth, Nashville Tennessee - 4'x4'x2'

2019, acrylic on canvas 48x60"

Quilt of Maya Angelou By Shabazz Larkin & Ashley Larkin, 36x48

Carved Wood and Nails, 2024

2024, Acrylic on Canvas

God’s Secret Chair is an immersive storytelling installation by artist Shabazz Larkin created with Christians for Social Action. The project explores overlooked Black Christian leaders whose faith shaped movements for justice, freedom, and hope.

Created for Artville in Nashville, this installation by Shabazz Larkin explores the role of public art in activating shared spaces. Presented as part of the citywide arts festival, the work engages passersby through bold imagery and cultural storytelling, transforming the street into a site of reflection, curiosity, and community connection.

2021, Neon Signs 35x42"

The Thing About Bees: A Love Letter to My Sons is a children’s book written and illustrated by Shabazz Larkin exploring curiosity, fear, and the quiet courage of growing up.