Isaka Shamsud-Din, a renowned artist whose impactful murals and portraits celebrated Black life in the Pacific Northwest, passed away on June 16 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 84 years old.
Shamsud-Din’s artwork can be seen throughout Portland, from Dawson Park in Albina to the Oregon Convention Center and the student union at Portland State University. His pieces depict pioneering Black figures and carry personal significance, as they also feature friends and family members.
Perhaps his most famous work is ‘Rock of Ages,’ a poignant portrait of his father that was central to a recent exhibit at the Portland Art Museum, on display from 2019 to 2023. The painting is characterized by vibrant colors and a sense of warmth, evoking the dignity of its subjects.
Intisar Abioto, a fellow artist who crossed paths with Shamsud-Din during a street photography project, remarked, “His work honors Black presence, honors Black life and Black love, connection and community. He really laid a foundation for us.”
Born Isaac Allen in 1940 in Atlanta, Texas, Shamsud-Din’s family relocated to Oregon following a traumatic event in which his father was attacked by a white mob. They settled in Vanport, just before the city was devastated by floods in 1948, subsequently moving to Guild’s Lake Courts, another housing project that was later demolished. Even in his youth, Shamsud-Din was determined to pursue art, finding inspiration in the predominantly white illustrations in his school textbooks.
His talents blossomed early, winning several national art competitions before he returned to the South in the 1960s. During this crucial period, Shamsud-Din served as a field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, collaborating with some of the most influential figures of the Civil Rights movement.
Shamsud-Din’s commitment to education led him to help establish the Black Studies program at San Francisco State University. Upon returning to Portland in the 1970s, he launched the Albina Mural Project, which not only enhanced the city’s aesthetic but also provided opportunities for over 40 young Black artists over two decades. He actively engaged with students in Portland Public Schools, fostering a new generation of artists.
Jalil Shamsud-Din, one of Isaka’s sons, fondly remembers painting a mural alongside his father on a nonprofit building located on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. “He had it all done out, utilizing a grid system. Working from a piece of paper to something being on a wall — to me that was amazing,” he recalled.
The mural, titled ‘Now is the Time, the Time is Now,’ features a large portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remains a fixture on the street named after the civil rights leader.
Reflecting on the Albina Mural Project, Isaka Shamsud-Din stated, “I wanted to hold the whole of MLK (Boulevard) and many other spots around to have these murals. It was really claiming the territory.”
Shamsud-Din’s commitment to the arts extended beyond murals. In 2003, he established the African American Visual Arts Scholarship at Portland State University and held artist residencies in over a dozen prisons in Washington, demonstrating his dedication to outreach and education.
His legacy is preserved not only through his artwork but also through the support he received from notable figures and organizations, including the philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer and the nonprofit Don’t Shoot Portland, which has worked to maintain his archives.
Grace Kook-Anderson, a curator at the Portland Art Museum, reflected on Shamsud-Din’s awareness of the racism and challenges he faced from a young age, adding, “Despite it all, I think he ultimately was such a generous, positive person. And if you spend time with the paintings, that is really his truth and his hope.”
Isaka Shamsud-Din is survived by seven children and their families, continuing his legacy of artistry and activism.
His work, which resonates with themes of love, community, and resilience, will live on, inspiring countless individuals to engage with and celebrate Black art and culture.
image source from：oregonlive
