An Inspired Chat with Sh’marv Harris of Atlanta

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sh’marv Harris. Check out our conversation below.

Sh’marv, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m currently chasing an outlet for my creativity. For me, creativity isn’t just about making something visually appealing or entertaining..it’s about expressing the parts of myself that can’t always be communicated through words. Whether it’s through art, storytelling, fashion, or even the way I approach everyday challenges, I’m always searching for ways to channel my ideas into something meaningful. If I stopped chasing that, I think I would lose a big part of who I am. Creativity gives me direction, it helps me process my experiences, and it allows me to connect with others in a way that feels authentic. Without it, I’d feel like I’m moving through life without color, just existing instead of really living.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sh’marv Harris, and at my core I’m a creative. I move between different outlets art, fashion, storytelling but they all center on the same goal: giving voice to the things I feel and see that aren’t always easy to put into words. My art style leans heavily into an Afro Black, grunge, anime inspired aesthetic. I’ve always been drawn to darker, moodier imagery faces, expressions, emotions that sit somewhere between beauty and discomfort.
What’s interesting to me is the double standard in how dark art is received. When white artists lean into horror, shadows, or the grotesque, it’s often labeled as edgy, experimental, or avant garde . But when Black artists step into that same space, it’s too often misunderstood, or dismissed as “too much.” I want my work to challenge that perception to show that Blackness can exist in the moody, surreal, even haunting spaces of art just as powerfully as it does in vibrant, celebratory ones.
Right now, I’m working on honing my voice as an artist and expanding the ways I share my vision, whether through drawing, writing, or future projects. What makes my creative journey unique is that it’s deeply personal but also universal..I use my work to process life, but I hope people see parts of themselves in it too.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I used to believe that life was fair that bad things only happened to bad people and that good people were naturally rewarded. It was a very black and white way of understanding the world, almost like a moral scoreboard. As I grew older, though, I realized that life doesn’t work that way. Good people experience loss, setbacks, and heartbreak just as much as anyone else, and sometimes the people who seem to cause harm move through life untouched. That shift in perspective was difficult but also freeing. It taught me that character and integrity can’t be measured by circumstances alone. Being a “good person” isn’t about expecting rewards it’s about staying true to who you are even when life feels unfair. That realization has helped me build resilience and shape a more realistic, yet still hopeful, view of the world.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes actually, very recently. Like yesterday, literally. 9/26 will probably always stick with me. I found myself in a situation where one of my “professional doors” suddenly closed . Thank God I had another one to fall back on, but in that moment, I felt incredibly low, almost embarrassed. It was one of those days where you start questioning everything your choices, your timing, even your luck. Suddenly, after hella conversations I started to realize that not all loss is bad. Sometimes a chapter closes on its own because the story has already served its purpose. It doesn’t make it any easier in the moment I definitely had my pity party but looking back, I can see how it might’ve been the push I needed. It’s humbling, in the sense that life has a way of reminding you that control is more of an illusion than a guarantee.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
For me, I can usually tell the difference between a fad and a real foundational shift by how it connects to culture and longevity. A fad feels loud, quick, and surface level like it shows up everywhere overnight but doesn’t leave anything behind once the hype dies. But a true shift feels deeper. It changes how people express themselves, how they create, how they connect.
Because I’m someone who pays attention to art, fashion, and music, I look at whether something is just being consumed for the moment or if it’s influencing how people see themselves long term. For example, grunge or anime inspired art has gone from being a “trend” to becoming a permanent language in culture, especially when Black artists like me push it into spaces it hasn’t been welcomed before. That’s the difference a fad is a wave, but a shift becomes part of the foundation you can build on.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, the first thing I’d stop doing is relying so heavily on other people for emotional support. I’ve noticed that I can sometimes be co dependent. I like sharing experiences, I like doing things with people, and I often look outside myself for validation or comfort. But if time were suddenly finite, I’d want to focus more on building that foundation within myself.
It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t still value relationships. I’d actually cherish them even more but I’d want to stop depending on them to define my sense of stability. Instead, I’d learn how to stand fully in my own strength and enjoy solitude just as much as companionship. That way, those 10 years wouldn’t just be about holding on to people I’d also be fully present with myself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlavisy?igsh=MW9ycGVvOG1zcHdmcA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://pin.it/69BwINb3t

Image Credits
All taken by me, all art was freehanded