Artists
*DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED*
About
During this conversation, multidisciplinary artist Kiyan Williams will be in dialog with visual artist/DJ Khari Johnson-Ricks to discuss their unique experience of pursuing art and activism in Newark. How does one cultivate an artistic practice growing up in a city such as Newark? How do grassroots organizations specifically centered around the LGBTQIA+ experience provide space for artistic expression? RSVP required. Zoom details will be sent via email confirmation.
Other programs in this series: *CANCELED*
Khari Johnson-Ricks is an artist and DJ whose work spans a range of audiovisual media and often exist in the public eye. This includes the production of zines, works on paper, performances, murals, and nightlife spaces. Through these media he explores the ways that vernacular ritual practice becomes tradition and how the body carries history through movement. By editing, rediscovering, juxtaposing the movement traditions of Shotokan Karate, Jersey Club, weightlifting and various other sports he highlights the social importance of movement as a non-verbal communication method as well as a community building and mental health tool. Khari holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Montclair State University (2016) and a Master of Fine Arts from Hunter College, City University of New York (2019).
Kiyan Williams is a gender non-conforming, multidisciplinary artist from Newark, NJ who explores Black Queer Subjectivity. Their practice involves various media including video, sound art, installations, and performance that are informed by autoethnography, an investigation of archival materials, and social intervention. In addition to being a practicing artist, Williams is a cultural writer. They have contributed to publications such as the Huffington Post and The Feminist Wire. Williams earned a BA with honors from Stanford University and an MFA in Visual Art from Columbia University. Their work has been exhibited at SculptureCenter, The Jewish Museum, Brooklyn Museum, and The Shed. They have given artist talks and lectures at The Guggenheim, The Studio Museum in Harlem, Princeton University, Stanford University, Portland State University, and Pratt Institute. Williams’ work is in private and public collections including the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Williams lives and works in New York City, New York.
