2024 TRANSfutures Commissions

Drago Rentería (he/él) is a Deaf Chicano/Indigenous heteroqueer trans man and a longtime LGBTQ/social justice activist based in San Francisco. He is an accomplished visual artist whose artistic pursuits seamlessly intertwine with his housing justice activism. Drago has created powerful and compelling artistic work that preserves vibrant stories of his Latinx communities while also shedding light on the ongoing, devastating gentrification that has impacted his beloved Mission District.

Salimatu Amabebe (he/they), is a trans, Nigerian-American chef and multimedia artist, working in food, film, photography, performance, sculpture and installation. His work focuses on the intersection of food and art while centering community activism, African diasporic culinary traditions and Black queer/trans liberation. BARRACUDA (it) is a multi-gender avatar and manifestation of collective fantasy. Non-human in nature, BARRACUDA is prone to the occasional “glitch,” veering into the opulent, decadent and perverted. It identifies most significantly as a “crowd-sourced slut.”

TKO was founded in 2012 by Quentin and Jennine Bell. In 2017, TKO became the first and only AIDS Service Organization (ASO) and STD/STI clinic in the state of Alabama founded and led by Black Trans and LGBQ people. We are community people serving the communities that we represent. Our goal is to help more Black trans, same-gender-loving, and Black queer folks access high-quality primary care and endocrinology services.

Ty Defoe is a citizen of the Anishinaabe Nation and Oneida Nation. A Grammy Award-winning interdisciplinary artist. As a sovereign story creator, Ty has earned fellowships from Robert Rauschenberg, MacDowell, Sundance, and Kennedy Center’s Next 50. Ty choreographed, starred, and created work in Broadway productions and rural communities, fostering relations and Indigenous futures. Publications: Casting a Movement, Thorny Locust, Howl Round, and Bloomsbury. Degrees from California Institute of the Arts (BFA) Goddard College (MFA), New York University, Tish (MFA). Ty is a professor of practice in the Department of English and in the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.

The McKenzie Project Inc. is a new Black trans-led organization in South Florida. We are the only Black Trans-led organization based in Miami Dade county. We aim to uplift Black TGNCNB+ individuals ages 14 and up, throughout Miami Dade and Broward County, with a primary focus on those facing homelessness and engaging in survival sex work. We promote HIV awareness through a lens of creative arts and promote entrepreneurship studies as an avenue to change the economic landscape that leads many of us to be disproportionately impacted by HIV.

Black Deaf Trans Nonbinary who thrives on being a chef and an activist. Love to inspire fellow Trans folks and giving back to the community. A huge believer in being open and speaking up about mental health

A fabulous gamer girl who is a FOODIE who loves especially mochi and matcha treats that is multi-faceted and yet fairly simple to understand at the same time. Who also happens to have multiple identities that has formed who she is, but does not define her.

Bee is a Minneapolis based multidisciplinary theater artist who not only has passions in wig making, hair, and makeup design for the stage, but is also a singer, actor, drag artist, burlesque performer, and is reembarking on playwriting. She works full time as a wig, hair, and makeup artist at the Guthrie Theater and part time as a hairdresser at a small salon where she specializes in gender affirmation. Her mission as an artist is to provide space for trans folx to feel safe, uplifted, and empowered to use their vibrant differences to shift minds and make a better world.

Color N Raw is space for black TLGBQ+ youth facing homelessness, coming out of incarceration and deeply impacted by the intersections of marginalization with support groups and direct services for black in South Florida with a strong focus in patronizing the youth in the Florida Ballroom culture and Inner city

Futaba Shioda (he, his) is a trans, Asian actor and cultural worker invested in community autonomy and labor rights. His work bridging art and advocacy have earned him an Obie Award and the Paul Robeson Award. Select Theater Credits: Gerd in A Transparent Musical (Center Theatre Group), Clown in The 39 Steps (Rep Theatre of St. Louis), Galatea in Galatea (WP Theater), NoFi in BLUSH (SoHo Rep), Alexi Darling/Swing in RENT (20th Anniv. Tour), and numerous developmental works. Film: Therapist Crush (upcoming), Sideways Smile. Voice Over: Kennedy Center for Young Audiences, Spotify’s Raise Your Voice. www.futabashioda.com / @futabashioda

Crowned San Francisco’s Drag King of the Year 2022, this black, queer, trans non-binary, drag king is your local emo sadboi and the dapper daddy of your dreams! Follow him @helixirdrag

Hi, I’m Jerome Hawkins a young advocate for my community. I’ve been doing this type of work for about eight years since I’ve been in high school. Outside of this I dance professionally for company here in Florida aswell as teaching dance. On my spare time I work with mental disabled individuals to help them live a more fulfilling life.

Joshua Baker is a social worker, creative, and movement worker based in Tuscaloosa, AL. He is currently a third-year Ph.D. student studying how racial-queer positionality shapes the socio-psychological experiences of Black, queer communities and serves as Youth Program Manager at The Knights & Orchids Society, Inc, a Black, Trans and queer led organization building the power of Black, Trans and Queer folx across the South through a spectrum of wellness services. Artistically, Baker’s work is deeply grief-informed, and grounded in Black, southern ways of knowing committed to the visibility, commemoration, and liberation of Black, Trans and queer life.

Keeks (Formally known as MAARQUII) is a southern born multi-disciplinary artist currently located in Portland, Oregon. Seamlessly transcending genre with a charismatic confidence and an unflinching openness that is rarely found in the industry today, she is able to effortlessly command any style. From crushing dance, hip hop, and industrial leaning beats to ethereal soundscapes and soulful R&B influenced melodies. This genre spanning performer has been able to captivate audiences with an unmatched stage presence and high energy performance that has garnered attention since her first release with 2016’s “Heavy Petty.” Her 2018 debut full-length album “C.A.B.O” was recently named one of 50 albums that define the state of Oregon by Portland Monthly Magazine. Keeks is a true professional who has worked to perfect her artistry through integrity, respect, and a dedication to her community.

Mickaela comes from Southern Baptists pastors, Army vets, real estate brokers, and the 1st “free” Black welders in Southwest, Georgia. From these experiences, she has emerged a leading strategist and budding artist in social justice movements for over a decade. In 2015, they co-founded Southern Fried Queer Pride, a nonprofit for LGBTQ artists of color. Currently, she is “Co-director of Policy and Programs” at Transgender Law Center, where she co-wrote the “Trans Agenda For Liberation” policy platform. Her debut film “ Under False Colors” harnesses the spirit of Black trans community organizing in a hybrid, narrative-documentary short, produced by Comfrey Films.

Mondo Vaden (He/They) is a DeafBlackTrans Intersectional Librarian, artist, and activist. He performs as drag king Mondo Millions, working to bring Deaf/DisabledQueer Visibility to all via The Black Violet Revue, a BlackQueerDisabled virtual variety show. They have 10+ years of experience with tech, data, libraries, and connecting people with information and resources! He is always looking for creative ways to support mutual aid and his various communities, while motivating others to do the same. Making complex subjects accessible via creative means is a passion of his, and he looks forward to helping people find the information they need.

Raven Kameʻenui-Becker (they/them/theirs) is a Māhū ʻŌiwi interdisciplinary artist from Maunalua, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, currently living on unceded Duwamish land. They hold an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts with a concentration in Decolonial Arts Praxis. A liminal space enthusiast, Raven’s recently-completed thesis is entitled Weaving Futurity: Māhū ʻŌiwi Vibrance in Liminal Spaces. They are fascinated by art that speaks to the playful, generative possibilities of transition. Raven’s artistic practice is grounded in numerous lineages, including ʻike Hawaiʻi, liminality, disability justice, futurity, color theory, and decolonial love. To connect with Raven and see more of their work, visit @strayviolet on Instagram.

Terrica Maura also known as Ms. T, is a native of Miami Fl. She has over 20 + years of experience which began in the heart of Miami at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center. Graduating in 2006 from Dillard High School Dance division, she received a full dance scholarship to New World School Of The Arts College in Miami for Dance which is where she found her passion for choreography. Having trained with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for four summers straight, Shannon Haynes of Diva Arts, New World School of The Arts College, Hannah Baumgarten from Dance Now Ensemble, Peter London of the Martha Graham Company, Traci Young of YCDT she continued to pursue a career in the performing Arts. She has performed and choreographed for many artists and companies such as Trick Daddy, Brianna Perry YRB, Trina, Dillard High, Michael Krop High School, Boys & Girls of Tomorrow, Santa Monica College in Los Angeles and April Raquel just to name a few. Her passion has always been empowerment of young women and men, using dance, modeling, etiquette, mentoring, and services to help the youth explore their inner and outer beauty. At this present time, Terrica is the owner of Diversity Performing Arts Center who is celebrating their 14 year anniversary August 13th 2023 Terrica also has a non profit organization by the name of No Dancer Left Behind which has been providing scholarships to the youth in South Florida who may be experiencing hardships. and is ready to continue using her talent and skills to effectively impact the youth of South Florida.

TRANSLUCENT is a queer brown drag performer with a background in fine art. Their drag pushes limits of a singular label by exploring themes of intimacy, surrealism, filth, vanity and delight. They began performing online during the Digital Drag Era. Inspired by shows like OakLash, they moved to San Francisco in 2021 to pursue drag as a career. In 2023, they won the title of the first ever Pillow Princess, with an over-the-top surreal performance. They coined the nickname Dinky from their metal-spoof Barbie number that gained popularity last year. Follow them on Instagram @iamtranslucent for updates on their shows.

Zariya is a black queer non-binary artist, poet, photographer, and volunteer farmer living on Shawanwaki and Muskogee land (Birmingham). Existing at numerous intersections fuels their passion for being a part of collective decolonization. Their deep reverence and connection with the land acts as an anchor for many of their belief systems as they practice story-telling from a black queer southern lens.