The Forge presents “Shabazz Larkin: The Flowers Have Something to Teach Us,” on view through Sunday, May 25, 2025. This immersive exhibition by Nashville-based artist Shabazz Larkin invites audiences to confront the fragile, fleeting nature of beauty, violence, and fear. Through a deeply personal and ephemeral exploration, Larkin draws parallels between the transience of flowers and the impermanence of the fears that hold us captive — suggesting that in order to transcend them, we must face them, call them by name until their power fades.
Shabazz Larkin is a multifaceted artist, poet, sculptor, and mindfulness ambassador based in Nashville, TN. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, his work celebrates Black culture and explores themes of justice, history, and spirituality through vibrant figures, portraits, and monuments.
Meet the artist at his Mindfulness Experience / Art Talk on Sunday, May 18, 7:30 pm, or at the Art Party on Thursday, May 22, 6:00 – 9:00 pm. The Forge Nashville is located at 217 Willow St., Nashville TN 37210. Explicit Content statement: This exhibition is graphic in nature and grapples with mature content.
Local Graphic artist Henri Hardison is presenting a personal one night only showing of thirteen of his uniquely distinctive works of art. The venue is the Rudeboys Gallery space on the first floor of the Taylor 100 building. The exhibition will be on view from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Monday, May 19, 2025. Full disclosure, Henri and I were high school classmates my senior year at Pearl High School and have been lifelong friends.
Born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1952, Henri Hardison’s life journey is a testament to his diverse talents and experiences. After graduating from Pearl High School, he pursued his passion for art at Tennessee State University. His seven years of military service, including tours in Guam and San Diego, instilled discipline and a global perspective. Transitioning to civilian life, Henri found a creative home at the National Baptist Publishing Board, where he honed his skills in pre-press, inventory management, and advertising supervision, all while earning a graphic arts certificate from Nashville State Technical College.
Now retired from his role as a bank teller at Fourth Seals National Bank due to fibromyalgia, Henri has returned to his first love: art. Specializing in pen and ink, he creates abstract, cubist, and surrealist pieces inspired by nature and artists like Jackson Pollock and Salvador Dali. Henri’s upcoming exhibition at the Rudeboy Galleries on Monday, May 19th at 100 Taylor Street, showcases his unique ability to blend these influences into a style that is both challenging and inviting, offering viewers a fresh perspective on familiar themes.
