Amina Ross
Overview
Amina Ross (they/them) is a twenty-five-year-old new media artist based in Chicago, Illinois. They were born and raised in New York City, New York, so their work is distributed between various art institutes in New York City and Chicago.[1] They describe themselves as an undisciplined creator, or multimedia artist, who works across art mediums including video installations, sculpture, and curatorial engagements.[2] Ross's works embrace embodiment, imaging technologies, intimacy, and collectivity, physically as well as with new forms of media.
Background
Ross relocated from New York City to study at School of the Art Institute of Chicago[3]. They were part of the 2015-2016 Chicago Artist Coalition BOLT Residency. They are currently a 2018-2019 Artist-in-Residence at Arts & Public Life and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture at the University of Chicago, where they are making engaging work for the world to see.[4] Ross has always been an educator, speaking and lecturing at several different panels, such as Wayne State University, the College Arts Association Conference, the Alphawood Foundation, and the Women’s Center for Creative Work, among others.[5]
Artworks
Amina Ross describes their work as "boundary-crossing" works that embrace intimacy, technology in the physical and digital spaces.[6] They use multiple art forms, known as mediums, to express their themes and messages in their both mentally and physically interactive art. They are a queer, gender non-conforming artist of color, and their art supports and demonstrates that.[7] They also shape spaces that honor love and darkness. Here are a few of their pieces in different forms of mediums.
Peep Show
An art exhibit showcased in 2014. The audience enters a playfully staged room, where they are encouraged to sit and watch. Then, a video of two women pillow-fighting, from the torso up, begins playing.[8] Also seen in the video are the women's faces during the rest or breaks. This work challenges various commercial interpretations of female intimacy.[9]
The Body Con Project
Started in 2014 alongside artist Nic Kay.[10] The work portrayed in this collaboration was influenced by music videos dating back from the 1990s and 2000s, where the focus was on the female "body," specifically the African American feminine body, and how they were portrayed in these videos.[11] Ross tells a story by using people as props to give a performance and portray their theme of the piece using intimacy.
Eclipsing (body)
A video composed in 2014 showing an eclipse.[12] The video uses a body to show or represent the celestial body where the light shines. Part of the Eclipsing multimedia festival for queer artists of color, whose goal is to explore the darkness or define it, which Amina runs and organizes for other artists to contribute.[13]
Pre-Formed Partners (I, WE, U & ME)
A video installation collaborative with artist Jory Drew composed in 2014.[14] A video that explores the audience's association with submission, domination, and command by using different visuals, tones, language, and a green screen in the video being played.[15]
Community Works
Ross enjoys supporting their African American and queer community and has various groups in their community they are involved with or even founded to show that support. They educate as well as support in these groups with their art or their intellect.
Beauty Breaks
Based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2016 by Amina Ross. Used to educate and engage in order to break open or challenge what black beauty means, as well as demonstrate black feminine leadership.[16] The series of educational workshops are free and open to the public. Some of the workshops include activities to help promote confidence in younger African American women. They provide a comfortable environment and tips and tricks for hair and self-confidence.[17]
Femme 4 Femme (F4F)
Based in Chicago, Illinois, co-run by Amina Ross and Jared Brown.[18] F4F is a black and femme space located in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. Provides a domestic venue. Involved with writers, performers, and all sorts of artists. Described as energetically charged and made to cater to femininity and people of color.[19]
Related Artists
References
- ↑ Keihm, Colleen. "April Artist in Residence: Amina Ross". LATITUDE Chicago. Latitude Chicago. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ "Amina Ross: Black Hair, Intimacy and Touch". The Visualist. Visualist. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ "Amina Ross: Daisy Chain". The Visualist. Visualist. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Keihm, Colleen. "April Artist in Residence: Amina Ross". LATITUDE Chicago. Latitude Vhicago. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ "Amina Ross: Daisy Chain". The Visualist. Visualist. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Ross, Amina. "Amina Ross - About". Amina Ross. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Gettinger, Aaron (27 December 2018). "Amina Ross creates ideal space". Hyde Park Herald. Hyde Park Herald. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Ross, Amina. "Peep Show". Amina Ross. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Ross, Amina. "Peep Show". Amina Ross. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Keihm, Colleen. "April Artist in Residence: Amina Ross". LATITUDE Chicago. Latitude Chicago. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Ross, Amina. "The Body Con Project". Amina Ross. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Ross, Amina. "Eclipsing (body)". Amina Ross. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Cardoza, Kerry (18 January 2019). "A Leap Into Darkness: An Interview with Amina Ross on the Second Eclipsing Performance Festival". Newcity Art. Newcity Communications. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Ross, Amina (2 May 2014). "Pre-Formed Partners (I, WE, U & ME) 2014". Vimeo. Vimeo. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Ross, Amina. "Pre-Formed Partners". Amina Ross. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ "About". Beauty Breaks. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ "Beauty Breaks". Beauty Breaks. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ Guy, Max. "Residing at F4F: An Interview with Jared Brown and Amina Ross – Chicago Artist Writers". Chicago Artist Writers. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ↑ "Femme 4 Femme (F4F)". Femme 4 Femme. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
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