Quaker Pirate

Todd Drake, of Brooklyn Meeting, shares art in public spaces under the street name "Quaker Pirate." 

On the Sept. 2, 2025 episode of Thee Quaker Podcast, Todd explained that "Quaker Pirate" came from "Obadiah, a book about a young Quaker who really wanted to be a pirate. His family said, 'if you want to be a pirate, Obadiah, be a good Quaker pirate.' Windy Cooler, a Quaker minister, told that story, and when I heard 'Quaker pirate,' I thought, 'that’s it!,' and I stole it." 

In the past few years, Todd's work has focused "on messages of peace and anti war and compassion for children that are the victims of war everywhere, and (on) equality, the environment. I’ve expanded into other subjects that are shaped by my shared values with the Quaker community."

This spring, Todd painted a "Love All, Shelter All" mural on a highly visible building in Wilminton, Ohio, shown to the right, and received "tons of thumbs up" during the 17-hour painting process.

Todd says, "I’ve come to tell people that you can be a Quaker pirate too. You just have to try to do good without asking permission."

Hear more from Todd at quakerpodcast.com/quaker-graffiti-artist-todd-drake-on-doing-good-without-permission/