We’re looking forward to introducing you to Marshay Wells. Check out our conversation below.
Marshay, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
While your intelligence can take you places, its integrity seen and felt that will keep you there and sets you apart. Integrity shines through your work ethic, relationships and lifestyle. This route may take longer but it’s the peace within cultivating and surrounding you with good energy to sustain.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What up doe! My name is Marshay Wells, I am a Detroit Native and eastside bred Creative. My passions are poetry, film & photography, fashion, culture, art and activism. Through the years I have harnessed my passions and housed them under “The Shakespeare Brand.”
Fashion – St. Shakespeare Apparel Movement, Photography – ShootWithSaint Photography & Design, Visual Artistry- ShakespeareStudios.
Nicknamed “Shay Shakespeare” for my poetic and peculiar nature, I embraced this identity and found purpose in my multifaceted approach. What sets my brand apart is its ability to have a sense of exclusivity while remaining inclusive to a diverse audience. My work attracts a specific genre of people while keeping others intrigued. It challenges social norms and gives a platform to self-love, self-awareness, and self- expression.
Currently I am working on “I See Black People Campaign”, a visual project highlighting the black experience of past, present and future. My most recent visual was featured on Detroit based publication, @blackdetroiters and we’re gearing up for Black History Month, stay locked in!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
As a child I’ve always been imaginative, charismatic, quick-witted and a little clairvoyant. My earliest memory of feeling powerful would be during elementary and graduating as class valedictorian. For me this was public validation of what I sensed internally. It was bigger than academics for me, it was the beginning of forging a path. Throughout middle school- teenage years I can recall tagging, “Marshay The Great” everywhere lol.. from my bedroom walls, school lockers, to personal items. This was my first introduction to self-love and self-expression. This act birthed the writer, the poet, the illustrator, and curator I am today.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Dear younger self, it’s even cooler being peculiar and popular, you don’t have to choose tables, you are the table.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to inspiring minds of future generations. As a culture, we are divided in consciousness, knowledge, ability and awareness. My belief in unlearning and relearning social constructs can bridge gaps between street, church and state ideologies within black culture. The shift begins with self, then to our families, and ultimately to our communities.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace while doing street and landscape photography, I gain so much inspiration by street aesthetics, exploring new locations and creating new ways to express myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shopwithsaint.com
- Instagram: @shootwithsaint @st.shakespearebrand
- Facebook: M.C. Wells
- Other: booking site: https://shakespearestudios.as.me/schedule/105940b2
Image Credits
Marshay Wells
BJ Davis
DeAndre Dean
