The Ecstatic Artist: How to Make Joy-Centered Creative Work in a System That Doesn't Support Artists

Rashid Zakat is a filmmaker and artist based in Philly. His work spans video production, interactive installations, and ecstatic gatherings like Revival!—a video DJ experiment that explores what collective joy and resilience looks like in times of crisis. From following a group of boys into his church's video ministry as a child to recently hosting hands-on workshops at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rashid has spent his career exploring how creativity can be both a tool for solving problems and a vehicle for asking deeper questions. In this episode, Rashid reflects on the balance between his work as a capital “A” artist and his freelance work as a creative director and cinematographer for non-fiction, experimental films and music videos.He shares how he’s navigated the tension between being a "creative plumber" who helps others bring their visions to life and prioritizing his own artistic inquiry.Listen to this conversation if you want to explore the artist's life beyond the romantic notions—the reality of building sustainable creative work in a system not designed to support artists— and to remember the power of side projects that can evolve into something bigger.This episode offers a meditation on staying true to your questions while building a life around them.You can find Rashid at: rashidzakat.com @rashidzakat

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