Kenya (Robinson) is drawn to the artifacts of a uniquely American, mass consumerist landscape. She believes that these mundane objects are valuable transmitters of culture. Through her art making, she positions herself as a sort of archeologist from a distant future who uses physical data (sound recordings, film, advertising/product copy, novelty items, hardware tools, pulp fiction, etc.) to piece together narratives revealing social, historical, geographical, and cultural perspectives.
Kenya’s process is partially inspired by her own consumerist tendencies. She often restricts her material sources to mass retailers: The 99¢ Store, closeout shops, Target and Wal-Mart. Cheap access and the overall ubiquity of this ‘stuff’ provides a compelling platform for conversations that incorporate humor, familiarity and insight.
Kenya (Robinson) is a self-taught artist from Gainesville, Florida. A past resident of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s WorkSpace Program (2009-2010) and the 2010 Triangle Arts Workshop, her sculptural work has been exhibited at The Museum of Contemporary Diasporan Arts, The Jersey City Museum, The Aljira Center for Contemporary Art and The 60 Wall Street Gallery at Deutsche Bank. In addition, her performances have been featured at The Kitchen, Rush Arts Gallery, MoMA PS1, The DUMBO Arts Festival, Recess Activities Inc. and Cabinet Space. She lives and works in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and New Haven, CT.
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Watch Kenya's performance
