Malik Seneferu, Community Artist
Artist of the People
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Photos, L to R: Tumani Onabiyi, Malik Seneferu, Osaze Seneferu, and Scott, Tumani's brother, at the end of a long day of recording community voices at the Bayview Opera House (Credit: Lily Kharrazi/ACTA); Malik Seneferu during his interview for the Community Recording Day (Credit: Lily Kharrazi/ACTA); selling his art as part of the SOC: Bayview concert (Credit: DeShawn Davis); and live painting amidst the music (Credit: DeShawn Davis); two photos of Malik Seneferu’s artworks displayed at the concert (Credit: DeShawn Davis).
Malik Seneferu is a San Francisco native with deep roots in the Bayview. Well-known for his mantra “REMAIN CREATIVE,” he is a self-taught and internationally recognized painter, draftsman, sculptor, craftsman, muralist, woodworker, and public artist. A pivotal activist for his community, Malik offers a view of growing up in the neighborhood, including his path towards art-making as self-preservation and community activism in the face of the widespread drug use of the 1980s.
Recorded on May 12, 2018. Filmed by Tumani Onabiyi. Interview by Tumani Onabiyi and Lily Kharrazi.
“I already knew who I was, actually. I already knew that I had a mission here on earth, which was to minister through my art.”
“the next thing you know, I have all these people who want to come into my house and watch me paint and talk to me on some wisdom.”
- Malik Seneferu