Kia LaBeija (B.1990) is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in the heart of New York City’s theatre district, Hellz Kitchen. Her work explores the intersections of community, politics, fine art, and activism. As a visual artist she stages digital portraits as theatrical and cinematic re-imaginings of nonfictional events to spark conversation, complicating the way we view her subjects and the spaces they occupy. Her portraiture utilizes the medium of storytelling, to preserve histories, and make sociopolitical commentaries on current events. A performer by nature, LaBeija is an Overall Mother of the Iconic House of LaBeija where she explores the art of Voguing as a performance and community-based practice. She has made a name for herself in the House/Ballroom scene holding titles from The New York Awards Ball, The Latex Ball, and House Dance International to name a few. As a voguer she has performed and curated events in collaboration with MoMa PS1, The Brooklyn Museum, AFROPUNK, H&M, Fergie and Red Bull Music Academy. She speaks frequently in public on the subject of HIV/AIDS and is an advocate for under-represented communities living HIV positive including long term survivors, women, minorities and children born with the virus.