I create to translate energy into form—each piece an invitation to pause, feel, and connect beyond the surface.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I create mixed media and functional art—pyrography, ink, watercolor, and sculpted surfaces—often rooted in narrative. My favorite pieces are the ones that live between worlds: tactile, dimensional, and quietly immersive. Whether it’s a carved surface, a layered canvas, or a functional object like a chessboard, I’m drawn to work that invites interaction. I don’t just want it seen—I want it felt, held, and remembered.
Where do you find inspiration?In stillness. In observation. In the quiet tension between what is seen and what is understood. I’m inspired by texture, by age, by objects that carry a sense of history or presence. Nature plays a role, but so does human behavior—the subtle, often unspoken layers beneath it. My work is less about capturing a moment and more about revealing what lingers beneath it. Inspiration doesn’t arrive loudly for me—it settles in, then asks to be shaped.
What would you do with $25,000?I would invest it directly into expanding my creative capacity—refining my studio, acquiring higher-grade materials, and building out larger, more immersive works. I would also transition further into gallery-level presentation: custom framing, cohesive series development, and curated show submissions. A portion would support documenting the work properly—professional photography and archival presentation—so each piece carries its full weight beyond the studio.
Vote for Shama Bell to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
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