Kiyan Williams is an American gender non-conforming, multidisciplinary artist 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 lives and works in New York City, New York.
Kiyan Williams works across multiple disciplines, including performance art. In addition to creating their own performance based works, they have collaborated with and participated in other artists performances pieces that deal with similar issues of Queerness. William's longest ongoing project is Unearthing, which began in 2014. In an interview in Paper magazine, Williams said that for them, "performance is a very useful way to understand power and identity." Unearthing: "Unearthing an ancient, genderqueer griot sits in a waist-high mound of dirt sourced from an unrecognized burial ground of enslaved Africans in New York City. The griot is both human and spirit; neither man or woman; of the past, present, and future. The audience witnesses the griot transform their body into an alter of protection for Black people – living, deceased, and yet-to-be born. During this ritual performance, the griot covers themselves in dirt, glitter, paint, and rum while unearthing stories of Black queer resistance and liberation." - Dixon Place Unearthing Performance Description. The performance begins with Williams entering into the performance space in a procession. Once at the stage area, which holds a large mound, they cover themselves in dirt and decorate the mound with flowers. Williams then begins to shout "why you always so dirty?" to the audience while covering their arms and legs in dirt, and then eating it. Williams covers their own body with paint and glitter, and comes out of the mound dancing in a style that is reminiscent of the Vogue style of dancing. In addition to Unearthing, Williams has created other performances such as Where Do The Poor Go, The Pretty Nigga Bitch, and Growing Pains.Where Do The Poor Go is a site-specific, public performance that investigates gentrification in the Bushwick and Harlem neighborhoods of New York City.They have also worked collaboratively with other artists such as Rashaad Newsome, Nia Witherspoon, and Ann Carlson.
Writing
Kiyan Williams is a cultural writer and commentator who explores issues of reframing narratives around Black female sexuality. They have contributed pieces to the Huffington Post and The Feminist Wire. Additionally, Williams has spoken about the experience of being Black, Queer, and growing up poor.
Awards, residencies, and grants
2017 ASTREA Global Arts Fund Awardee, New York, NY
2016 Stanford Arts Institute Grant, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
2016 Trans Justice Funding Project Grant Recipient, New York, NY
2016 Queer Emerging Artist Residency, Destiny Art Center, Oakland, CA
Celeste Prize
2015 Create Dangerously: Writing for Performance Intensive, JACK Theater, New York, NY
