Ayana Evans

New York
Interdisciplinary
Chamberlain Award, 2022
↗ https://www.ayanaevans.com/

Gender
Power
Society
Ayana Headshot

Artist Statement

My Operation Catsuit persona is me being 100% me. My hope is that this encourages others to be 100 % themselves. Both within and outside of the Operation Catsuit series I often perform solo durational actions like jumping jacks and high kicks in heels for two to three hours at a gallery with a full face of makeup, or push-ups in heels in an intersection. These performance actions are designed to highlight the repercussions of racism and misogyny, as well as the power of a woman taking up space in ways that are traditionally reserved for cis straight men. In addition to my performances, I am now also focusing on community events, portrait photography, and building-sized projections to discuss racism and economic inequalities. My most recent projection series touches on mass incarceration and loss of love.

 
Ayana in pink tule laying on sofa
"She's AT the Mansion" photo by Ayana Evans 2021 @ Yaddo.
Ayana in tule outside at night with a shovel
"Imma Build My Own World" Photo taken by Ayana Evans 2021 @ Yaddo
Ayana outside, dressed up in pink tule and gold sequins w their pink underpants pulled halfway down
"Code Switching in My Tinsel Garden Performance" Photo Series, 2021 photos taken by Ayana Evans
Two women in push up position outside. Ayana, the person on the left, is dressed in yellow tiger print with a pom pom on their head.
"If Keish Jumped Off A Bridge Would You Do It Too." 2018. Closing performance at Medium Tings Gallery
Three Tik Toks of Ayana dressed up side by side.
Instagram Performance for Inverse Performance Festival at the Momentary of Crystal Bridges Museum 2020
two figures dressed up in tule, one tugging the other. They're standing on the edge of a river during a perfect sunny day.
Ayana Evans and Tsedaye Makonnen collaboration Performance at West Cornwall, upstate NY. 2021. Photo by Theo Coulombe.
Ayana dancing with themselves projected onto the wall behind them.
"Love Letters to LES building projections + public performance in 15 degree cold." Dec 2018. Photo by Karl Clooney