About
Arturo Shabazz
Rafael Arturo Lugo (better known as Rafael A. Shabazz) is a multidisciplinary Afro-Latino artist and poet from Dorchester, Massachusetts. Through his writing and visual arts, he tells stories that are rooted in economic struggle, oppression and urging you to dig deep within yourself.
Rafael Shabazz published his first book of poems and personal essay's titled "I.S.A.A.C" in 2019. Shabazz also released his first poetry album in 2022 titled "A New Afro Latino Beat Poet". ​After the release of the album Shabazz has performed at the BCA Black Box Theatre (Entropy Festival), Boston Public Library (Copley), Elevated Thoughts (Lawrence, MA), Cncpt6 (Lowell, MA), Makeshift (Chinatown, Boston), Art In The Park (Lynn, MA), "There+Now" Mural Opening for Yenny Create (Prudential Center) and the Boston Liberation Center (Roxbury), Museum Of Fine Arts Boston (Amplify Latinx City Talks Series and Hispanic Heritage Month), Scope Apparel (Jamaica Plain, MA), The African American Artist In Residency (Jamaica Plain, MA for the Mind of a Hustler Gallery), Darryl's Cornerbar + Kitchen (South End, Boston), Starlight Square (Cambridge, MA for Roya Organization). Fairmount Copley Plaza Hotel (for the MIRA Coalition Gala Event) and on Channel 5 Chronicle News for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Shabazz formed a jazz poetry group called "Indi Dos" releasing an album titled "Poe Jazz". The group then performed at the Bread & Roses festival in Lawrence, Ma, the Nick Paciorek at the Pitcher - Goff House in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Darryl's Cornerbar & Kitchen in Roxbury, MA and more.
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Arturo's artwork has been featured at Distillery Gallery, Humphreys Street Studio, JP Licks, School of Fashion Design (Boston), Market.Casablanc, Inner Sanctum, The Living Gallery (Brooklyn, NY), Elevated Thoughts (Lawrence, MA), Starbucks (Somerville, MA) and 1369 Coffeehouse (Central, Sq, Cambridge), CNCPT6 (Lowell, MA), The Alchemy Experiment (Glasgow, UK). The Flesh Magazine, Love Over Powers Hate Magazine (Somerville, MA), African American Master Artist In Residency (Jamaica Plain, MA)
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