Interview
Abdullah Shahada
Abdullah is a mixed-media artist and writer exploring healing through creativity. His work transforms pain into purpose and expression into recovery, serving as both a personal therapy and a universal language. Blending abstract forms, raw emotion, and unconventional materials, he creates pieces that reflect the complexities of the human experience — love, chaos, resilience, and rebirth. Each work becomes a conversation between the visible and the invisible, the internal and the external. Abdullah strives for authenticity — a place where vulnerability becomes strength and creativity becomes a path to understanding. Whether through paint, words, or found materials, he continues to explore how art can reconnect us to ourselves and remind us that healing, like art, is an ongoing act of creation
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My name is A.S. Vincent, I’m 36 years old, a father, a veteran, and someone who’s experienced a wide range of highs and lows—successes and setbacks. I’ve struggled with mental health challenges, emotional turmoil, and the complexities of striving to be a good man and a father while navigating those struggles. It’s all part of the human experience, a journey of growth, resilience, and learning. What first pushed me towards art was the need to express the internal torment that often clouded my mind—insecurities, feelings of inadequacy, and a deep-rooted inability to communicate my emotions. For a long time, I lived in a state of confusion and disassociation. But as the chaos of those feelings slowly shifted, I found peace—through art. It has become my therapy, a way to find stillness in the storm. The act of creating has brought me a sense of tranquility and understanding that I never thought possible. For that, I will always be grateful.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“I’d say all my art has meaning, though not in the traditional sense. It’s about capturing states of being—whether it’s illustrating the madness of my own hallucinations or exploring grand, often absurd ideals. Other pieces are more about stripping down the facades of humanity—exposing the the contradictions, the hypocrisy we’re all swimming in. Cultural dogma, tribalism, beliefs we cling to, it’s all a joke. At the end of the day, people are just people—apex apes acting on primitive urges, equipped with the unfortunate gift of speech. Nothing more.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“When it comes to my mixed media projects, I tend to start with careful planning. On the other hand, with my abstract pieces, the approach is much more instinctive.”
Are there any art world trends are you following?
“I try not to follow trends — not only in art, but in writing and in life as a whole. It feels more genuine to me to cultivate my own thoughts and ideals rather than echo what’s popular. Of course, we’re all influenced by others in some way, but living objectively and staying true to myself has always been a personal ethos. I only began creating art recently, so I don’t really ‘follow’ the art world. My work comes directly from whatever is affecting my mind and life at the moment. I’m not even sure I like art in the traditional sense — what I love is the freedom it gives me. The freedom to explore, to express, and to see the reflections of my own experiences take form outside of me.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“For my mixed media projects, I usually begin with careful planning — gathering reference photos and giving serious thought to composition and concept. I often use my smart device to ‘pre-see’ what might work visually, experimenting digitally to explore balance and contrast before I begin creating physically. In contrast, my abstract pieces are all about spontaneity. I let the paint move freely — whether I’m using palette knives, trash bags, or whatever tools I can find. I pause only to reorient the canvas or step back, letting what I call ‘the spirits’ take over and express themselves through my work. When I work with acrylic on paper, I take a more experimental, almost Rorschach-like approach. I blot, scrape, and layer using various household objects until shapes, emotions, or stories begin to emerge. From there, I build on what I see — allowing intuition, heart, and imagination to guide the rest of the process.”
“The beauty of art is that we already live within it. Life itself is art.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Art doesn’t necessarily mean something specific to me, but it serves a purpose — from personal expression and emotional healing to surviving the routines of daily life and navigating the complexities of the world around us. The beauty of art is that we already live within it. Life itself is art. Every action, every emotion, every moment holds creative potential. We just need to adjust our ‘lenses’ to see the multitude of possibilities surrounding us — and find the tools that allow us to capture and translate that vastness into something tangible, a visual representation of the thoughts and energies floating all around us. But in the end, art for me, is a way to express my true nature — and creativity is simply the byproduct of that expression. It’s a space where emotions, thoughts, and experiences can take form, allowing me to release, reflect, and heal.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“Well, artistically, I see myself as the tangible manifestation of my actions — my life, in all its love, passion, chaos, and unpleasantries, is art. Every moment, every feeling, becomes part of the canvas that is me. I genuinely love being myself, even in the messiness of it all. The pieces I’ve created often come from those darker, more painful depths. Because of that, I love every one of them — even the ones I don’t necessarily ‘like.’ They’re all reflections of where I’ve been and who I am becoming. I hope others can feel that same freedom — the courage to express themselves fully. If my work inspires someone to reveal even a small part of their inner world — their thoughts, pains, joys, or truth — then that, to me, is the real power of art.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Since I’m still new to the art world, I’ve only had one exhibition so far — on October 4th, 2025, at the Pancakes and Booze Art Show in Dallas, TX, held at the Deep Ellum Art Co. It was an incredible experience! I highly recommend attending their nationwide shows — the atmosphere is full of creativity, genuine people, and professionalism. I’m excited to keep growing and to share my work at future exhibitions around the world. This is just the beginning — and I truly believe things can only get better for all of us art-doers.”
Instagram: @Official_Schizo_Art
Brush Bio: brush.bio/official-schizo-art
