My names are Brandt Maina | RIOA wa ROE (they/he/Her/Our) and I am a Portland-based queer artist, writer, director and performer from Nairobi, Kenya who documents and abstracts my autobiography into pastel drawings, surreal poetry, absurdist plays, particular photography, genre-fluid music, and soulful performances which shape sacred spaces that reify to audiences this sense of the Present Future as it passes -- right here, the slowing down, right now -- the deep breath that joyously exhales the grief in our collective traumas.
Run into me that We may kiss your forehead
My dream is to remain open and share all that I have lived and experienced so that it may touch and encourage folks who have been, are, or will be where I have been. Kenyans, East Africans, Pan-Africans, queer folks, genderfluid homies, immigrants, Black folks, people processing religious childhoods, people processing childhoods at all, yes, especially them, sanctuary seekers, tender little lovers with big ol' big ol' hearts
Primarily, I hope to achieve this dream though my artwork, all of which drives to a main mission: to create a television series about my life as a queer African immigrant attending college in rural Indiana -- because, like a plump nectarine on a hot summers day, that story is extra-wildly juicy
A fun fact: I love cows
Quote: "I AM remaining open, the table is set, everyone is welcome (everyone? everyone.)"
this website was designed by farah alkayed