We’re looking forward to introducing you to Rashad Ali Muhammad. Check out our conversation below.
Rashad Ali, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
What I’m being called to do now, something I once carried fear around, is exploring work related to HIV and AIDS. For a long time, the subject felt too heavy, too layered with stigma, grief, and silence. I was afraid of what doors it might open emotionally and how people might respond to my choice of focus. But I’ve reached a place where I feel ready, even compelled, to lean into that discomfort. The stories of people who lived through the epidemic and those living with HIV today are deeply connected to community, resilience, and survival — things I’ve always sought to honor in my art practice. What once felt daunting has now become a calling: to use my art as a bridge for dialogue, remembrance, and healing.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Rashad Ali Muhammad, and I’m a multidisciplinary visual artist and creative entrepreneur based in the DC–Maryland–Virginia region. I explore the intersections of identity, culture, and spirituality using collage as my primary medium. What makes my work unique is my commitment to reimagining everyday and unconventional materials—such as silk flower petals, recycled paper, or discarded fabrics—into vibrant collages that invite viewers to see the world in a new light. Beyond collage, I also work in video, sound design, photography, and installation, and I bring over 15 years of experience as a graphic designer. I’m passionate about creating art that sparks cultural conversations and fosters healing, whether through public art projects, exhibitions, or research-driven work. For me, art is both a personal sanctuary and a bridge to dialogue, transformation, and connection.
Beyond the studio, I’ve been exploring sewing and creating my own clothes as a way to fully express how I want to exist in the world. My style draws inspiration from West African and Indigenous traditions filtered through my contemporary African American perspective. When I glide into a room in one of my handmade pieces, I embody what I like to call “rich gay uncle energy”—joyful, stylish, and unapologetically myself.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that truly shaped how I see the world was my time in West Africa, traveling through Ghana, Togo, and Benin. While in Ghana, I visited Cape Coast Castle and walked through the slave dungeons. The tour guide recreated what those conditions would have been like, and in that moment, I felt the spirits calling to me. It was a powerful reminder that this is the reality my ancestors endured. From that unimaginable suffering, we still found ways to survive and create. Standing in that space, I understood more deeply the resilience and strength of our people. That experience shifted how I carry myself in the world—I have no reason to doubt myself or make myself small, because I come from a lineage of survival, brilliance, and endurance.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the defining wounds of my life was being deceived by an ex who gave me HIV. At first, it was incredibly tough—I sank into depression and carried a lot of shame and guilt. For a while, I thought my life as I knew it was over. However, over time, I came to a place of acceptance, and that shift changed everything. I began to see it not as a death sentence but as a turning point. In fact, I now consider it a kind of superpower. It drove me to live my life with urgency and fullness, to take control of my path, and to pursue everything I want to accomplish without hesitation. What started as a wound has become a source of strength, resilience, and clarity about who I am and what I want to contribute to the world.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that what really matters to me is authenticity, connection, and joy—living and creating in a way that feels true to who I am, building spaces where people feel seen and supported, and infusing a sense of playfulness into everything I do. I care deeply about people being able to show up as their whole selves without apology, and I try to model that in my own life. For me, authenticity isn’t just about honesty; it’s about alignment: making choices, creating art, and nurturing community in ways that reflect my values, my heritage, and my spirit. I want the people around me to feel seen, valued, and uplifted, and I carry that into my art by creating work that invites dialogue and sparks healing. At the core, what matters most to me is creating spaces—both personal and creative—where authenticity, connection, and joy can truly flourish.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me when I’m gone is that I lived fully, authentically, and unapologetically as myself, and in doing so gave others permission to embrace their own truth. I want to be remembered as someone who used art not just to create beauty, but to open doors for dialogue, for healing, for connection, and for seeing the world in new ways.
I hope people will say I carried joy and style with me wherever I went, that I filled rooms with laughter, color, and presence, and that I embodied the kind of energy that made others feel comfortable to shine brighter. I want to be known as someone who honored my ancestors by refusing to make myself small, and who carried forward their resilience and creativity as a gift to future generations.
Most of all, I hope my legacy is that I created spaces—through my work, my presence, and my love—where people felt seen, valued, and free. That I left behind not just artwork, but a spirit of authenticity, connection, and joy that others can continue to carry forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ramcreates.com
- Instagram: @ramcreates
- Youtube: @ramcreates90
- Other: TikTok: @ramcre8s
Image Credits
Nina Ligon, Director of Culture, Eaton DC
David Moss, Photographer
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