In celebration of American Artist’s new book Shaper of God, please join PW for a special conversation between Artist and Martine Syms.

In celebration of American Artist ’s new book Shaper of God , please join Pioneer Works for a special conversation between Artist and Martine Syms , moderated by Zainab Aliyu.

Published on the occasion of Artist’s titular exhibition, Shaper of God culminates a multi-year and multidisciplinary project inspired by the life and work of science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler. Edited by Aliyu, the book delves into three pivotal themes of Butler's oeuvre: the role of Pasadena and Los Angeles, with their distinct academic, scientific, and natural landscapes, in shaping her imaginative storytelling; the profound impact of her maternal family's migration, evidenced in her writing by themes of aspiration, labor, and displacement; and her critical engagement with space exploration, interrogating its implications for Black and Indigenous communities. Within this volume, contributions by Taylor Renee Aldridge, Lou Cornum, Tananarive Due, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Ayana A. Jamieson, and Fred Moten are paired with a rich compilation of diverse media by Artist.

Together, Artist and Syms-who were born and raised several blocks apart in Altadena, the neighborhood directly north of Pasadena-will explore the ways in which the specificities of their origins have shaped their respective practices, as well as their own approaches to research and artmaking. The conversation will dovetail into a book signing by Artist.

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