Maya James
Artist Statement
“My name is Maya Sophia Ananda James, a multidisciplinary social practice multimedia artist, graphic novelist, author, writer, arts educator, journalist, recipient of the Vanguard Award in ArtPrize 2023, and the artist behind The Kalamazoo Literacy Council’s “Literacy Lane”, one of the the largest ground murals in Michigan and “We Got the Juice (In The Zoo)”, a mural on the Metro Station in Downtown Kalamazoo, sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo and the City of Kalamazoo. My work thrives in collaboration with communities and organizations serving undervalued groups, including but not limited to black women and black LGBTQIA+ individuals. “
Venues
