Kia LaBeija

Kia LaBeija
Born March 18th 1990
New York City
Occupation Artist

Kia LaBeija (born 1990) is an American multidisciplinary artist whose work focuses on her identity as a black queer woman with HIV. She is also the current “mother” of the House of LaBeija [1]

Biography

Kia LaBeija was raised as Kia Michelle Benbow in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan.[2][3] She was born with HIV, given to her by her untested mother.[2] Her mother died of AIDS-related illness when LaBeija was 14.[3][4]

She studied dance and art at the Juilliard School, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and The New School.[2][3] During her education, she became involved in Ball culture in New York.[3] She became part of that community and learned about voguing, a style of dance she uses in her art.[3][4] In 2012, she joined the House of LaBeija, and changed her name to Kia LaBeija.[3][4]

Art

Kia LaBeija's work explores her identities primarily through photography and dance.[5] Her art is meant to increase representation of people with HIV/AIDS, especially black woman.[2][5] She chronicles difficult personal experiences to change imagery and awareness around HIV/AIDS.[3]

Her work was featured as part of Art AIDS American, where she was the only black woman whose art was shown.[2][5] She has also collaborated as a vogue artist with MoMA PS1, the Brooklyn Museum, AFROPUNK, H&M, Fergie and Red Bull Music Academy.[2]

Advocacy

Kia LaBeija is an advocate for many underrepresented communities, especially people living with HIV/AIDS.[2] She focuses on children born with the disease. She has been invited to speak at the CUNY Graduate Center, New York University and the New York Public Library.[2] POZ magazine placed her on the POZ 100 list of HIV/AIDS activists under 30. She has also been featured on HIV Plus Magazine's 20 most amazing HIV Positive Women list, as well as in VICE, The New York Times, Paper Magazine, and Time Out New York.[2]

References/Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Kia LaBeija". Kia Labeja. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Kia LaBeija". Visual AIDS. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ryan, Hugh (June 6, 2015). "Power in the Crisis: Kia LaBeija's Radical Art as a 25 Year Old, HIV Positive Woman of Color". Vice. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  4. 1 2 3 Fialho, Alex. "Kia LaBeija". www.artforum.com. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  5. 1 2 3 Abraham, Amelia (December 30, 2018). "Photographing Black, Female, HIV Positive Power". Refinery29. Retrieved 2018-04-02.

Kia LaBeija

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