Part comic book hero, part soulful storyteller, Shaylen’s work does not just hang on walls; it challenges, inspires, and dares you to look closer.
He is an interdisciplinary artist who does everything: painting, poetry, tattoos, and endurance art. Shaylen Nelson is channeling Afro culture with a bold style that practically leaps off the canvas to give you a high-five.
Growing up in South Central L.A., Shaylen found his first creative spark with his grandmother, who nurtured his imagination and became, in his words, “literally the reason why I’m an artist.” As a kid, she would give him toys that fueled his creativity, like Cat’s Cradle, a string game where you make patterns, sparking curiosity and passion that would shape his path as an artist.
While family support gave him a foundation, his journey wasn’t straightforward. After college, Shaylen encountered a significant challenge: navigating the business side of art, a field without clear rules or formulas.
“Going to college and majoring in art, one of the key things that was left out of the curriculum was the business of art,” he explains.
“It wasn’t something I was really taught, so I had to learn everything myself. There was a lot of trial and error to get to where I am today, and honestly, I’m still working on fully grasping the business side of my career.”
Shaylen draws inspiration from unexpected sources including endurance magician David Blaine.
“He does these endurance-based performances where he pushes his body to the limits. He can literally swallow frogs, swallow goldfish, and regurgitate them,” Shaylen explains, laughing.
“Obviously, I wouldn’t do anything that crazy. But just seeing someone push their body so far, dedicating themselves entirely to their craft—that inspires me to do the same with my performance art.
In his latest endurance piece, Shaylen held poses and completed physical exercises for seven hours straight, continuing until his body fatigued from the strain.
“And a lot of that was from David Blaine and what he does as an artist through his magician work,” he says
In addition to performance art, Shaylen has made a name for himself in the visual arts, using portraits to honor iconic Black figures and tell stories of resilience. His subjects include cultural icons like Beyoncé, George Floyd, and Michael Jackson. For Shaylen, portraits are a powerful way to convey the depth of Black culture and history.
“Faces are such a powerful tool to use to convey your story or whatever kind of message that you have,” he explains.
“Faces are the number one thing we see on a day-to-day basis. So, if I’m talking about Black culture, I use iconic figures — sometimes Beyoncé, or George Floyd, or Michael Jackson—all these prominent Black figures. Just using their face as an identifier already reaches the audience in a faster way because they can identify the face, they know the story behind it, and that bridges the gap of knowledge instantly.”
Behind the scenes, Shaylen is part of a thriving, tight-knit Black art community in L.A.
“The art community here is amazing,” he says. “The Black art community especially—it’s tight-knit but still welcoming to anyone who wants to join.”
Whether running with WalkGoodLA, painting at the Taste of Soul festival, or selling portraits at the Black Market Flea, Shaylen’s work bridges the iconic with the everyday, capturing both legends and emerging stars.
From endurance art to bold, comic book-like portraits, Shaylen is crafting a legacy that does not just sit on walls—it resonates, uplifts, and redefines what it means to be an artist in LA.
Follow Shaylen on Instagram @shaay.all.daay for his upcoming shows and exhibits.
