Today we’d like to introduce you to Shala.
Shala, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I make solar murals, stained-glass sculptures and creative shit that moves the world forward.
I am a weird art-kid that grew up in Uptown-born to Nigerian immigrants that came to the States to see about this American dream shit. They even named me accordingly. My full name, Olusola Olatokunbo Akintunde, means ‘God is making wealth that has come from abroad. The king or the bravery as come again.’ Intense, right? In Nigeria, names carry power and intention… like your word. They gave me a name that would make it really hard to be a loser in life. Calling me Bob would have made me someone that bows a lot.
My parents did not have a lot of money, so I grew up making my own toys and comic books out of cardboard and recycled material. Kids would want to read my books and play with my toys so I eventually started selling my creative works… I guess I have been doing that ever since!
I wanted to make art in every medium. I started rapping and figured I would make it through rapping because I thought rappers were the only artists that could do anything! I thought I could pivot from there. Created a group called, Qualo, in high school and we released four independent albums before we eventually got a deal with Universal. We broke up before we could drop our first major label debut and I had to figure out what to do with my life. I was consistently creating stuff, so I just started promoting this character series I created called Seven Spoon. Seven is a portrait series featuring an irreverent girl and her social commentary. I wrote shit we all think about but are afraid to say. It took off and I hosted my first solo gallery show about 4 years ago in a snowstorm. Over 375 people showed up and I got what I was supposed to be doing in life.
I published my first art book, Seven of Seven: Shala’s Seven Spoon, in 2015. I have been creating art installations ever since. I grew into using solar panels as my new canvas about two years ago. I am always looking for a way to move society forward with my art. It’s just part of who I am.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I struggled with insecurity. Mainly entertaining thoughts that I was not good enough to be a professional creative. I promoted other artists, like my band, Qualo, and secretly feared they would kick me out of the group… until they did! My insecurities and lack of awareness lead to most of the hard times I had. Self-sabotage, reacting to things that were only really happening in my head and communicating like… Kanye does sometimes.
My darkest period was when the second collective of artists I formed after Qualo split abandoned my company and I was left alone again. I had little to no money, it was hard to find a job and I had lost most of my confidence in the whole music thing. I always made art and never stopped creating, though. I think that saved me. I will never measure my success in life by how much money I made. It will be by how many of my crazy ideas I was able to bring to reality.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Movement Worldwide – what should we know?
I’m a social impact artist. I founded The Movement Worldwide, an art label and social cause company that produces music, multimedia projects, and art-based collectibles. We use art to move the world forward. I pretty much created the company to subvert the dominant paradigm by having way more fun than the status quo and making sure they know it. I want to create a new, responsible hedonism.
I am currently proud of Shala’s Bronzeville Solar Pyramid. It’s a solar pyramid that generates energy during the day and illuminates at night. It will supply energy to the gallery next door. It took us about 2 years to complete and it’s a Chicago Landmark. People make pilgrimages to see it.
We create cool impact art in four areas: female empowerment, health, music, and technology. Our current focus is my solar artwork (art tech), the Seven Spoon series (female empowerment), the debut album from a group called Preast and the Black Pxwder (dope music) and a functional public installation that will ultimately make cancer irrelevant (health and wellness).
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Curiosity and determination. I think you have to fall in love with the process of BECOMING successful to even BE successful. I also know the difference between thinking and just listening to my thoughts. I’ve learned to question my thoughts and challenge conventional wisdom during my process. There’s a big difference. Thinking takes effort. Think about it. I dare you.
Contact Info:
- Address: Shala’s Bronzeville Solar Pyramid
446 E 47th St
Chicago, IL 60653 - Website: www.bySha.la
- Phone: 305 209 3617
- Email: yes@themovementworldwide.com
- Instagram: @followshala
- Twitter: @followshala
- Other: www.theMovementWorldwide.com
Image Credit:
Rena Naltsas, Flow Johnson, Shala. Akintunde, Max Herman, Brandon Cornelius
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