About
Kosi Ayanna (b. 1994, Washington, DC) is from PG County, Maryland. Currently working out of Washington, DC, and Brooklyn, New York.
Kosi Ayanna (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and creative producer. Her work focuses on the elements of nature and the intimate parallel between human and world creation. Much of her work explores the nuances of Otherness through imagined otherworldly beings and spaces, while merging the ideas of community, realism and belonging. These created worlds function as portals to the transformation and spiritual guidance experienced by marginalized identities. Her practice juxtaposes color, texture, collage, and film photography to create these realms of transformation. The idea of movement translated throughout represents solitude, whilst translating mental awareness to visual form. Pursuing different styles has become a way of exploring the complexity of oneself, expanding beyond the limitations of phenomenal existence. Having the freedom and flexibility to explore new ideas and techniques encourages her creative process. Inspiration comes from many sources: music, language, film, personal experience, internal reflections, and external connections.
She has exhibited work in many group exhibitions and publications over the years. Her work has been exhibited at the ArtRoomDC Gallery in Washington, DC, Rio III Gallery in Harlem, NY, Riverfront Art Gallery in Yonkers, NY, and featured in print and virtually with Artists Talk Magazine in Manhattan, NY.
CV
Curriculum Vitae
Kosi Ayanna A. (b. Washington, D.C.)
Lives and works in Brooklyn, New York
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Artist Talk Digital Exhibition. Broadway Plaza. New York, NY
2024 Art On Loop. The Holy Art Gallery. New York, NY
2023 Artist Talk Digital NYE Exhibition. Times Square. New York, NY
2023 Indulgence. Art Room DC. Washington, DC
2023 No Love Without Humanity and Courage. Rio III Gallery. Harlem, NY
2022 Winter Calling. Riverfront Art Gallery. Yonkers, NY
2022 Artist Talk Digital Exhibition. Broadway Plaza. New York, NY
2016 Aunty's Tea Party 2. Open Studio DC. Washington, D.C.
2016 Aunty's Tea Party. Open Studio DC. Washington, D.C.
2016 Hall of Fame. Creative Arts Learning Center. Washington, D.C.
SELECTED DIGITAL EXHIBITIONS
2024 And the Gods Made Love. Artist Talk Digital Exhibition. Artist Talk Magazine (June, 2024). Times Square, New York, NY
2024 Pink youth. Art On Loop. The Holy Art Gallery (March, 2024) New York, NY
2023 Tied2U. Artist Talk Digital Exhibition. Artist Talk Magazine (December 31, 2023). Times Square, New York, NY
2022 Cosmic Breath. Artist Talk Digital Exhibition. Artist Talk Magazine (June 23, 2022). Broadway Plaza/ Times Square, New York, NY
SELECTED COMMISSIONS
2024 UNTITLED, acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 24 inches x 36 inches
2016 UNTITLED, acrylic and oil on canvas, 48 inches x 36 inches
2016 UNTITLED, acrylic on canvas, 24 inches x 30 inches
2016 UNTITLED, acrylic on canvas, 24 inches x 30 inches
2016 UNTITLED, acrylic on canvas, 16 inches x 20 inches
2014 UNTITLED, acrylic on canvas, 24 inches x 30 inches
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2024 The Holy Art Gallery. Artist in Conversation. Interview
2024 Artist Talk Magazine. Broadway Plaza. New York, NY Artist Talk Digital Exhibition - Times Square NYC
2023 Artist Talk Magazine. New York, NY Artist Talk Digital NYE Exhibition - Times Square NYC
2022 Artist Talk Magazine. Broadway Plaza. New York, NY Artist Talk Digital Exhibition - Times Square NYC
STUDIES and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2022 Photography. Michigan State University
2022 In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting by The Museum of Modern Art., NY
2022 Reimagining Blackness and Architecture by The Museum of Modern Art., NY
2022 Modern and Contemporary Art and Design by The Museum of Modern Art., NY
2016 Contemporary and Studio Art. School of Liberal Arts & Education of Hampton University.
Contact for professional work inquiries