Artist Statement
BLACKMAU is multimedia artist Stacey “BLACKSTAR” Robinson, and psychologist, Kamau “DJ Kamaumau” Grantham. Together they utilize digital collage aesthetics that are influenced by, and digitally mimic the visual and sonic production methods of the music cultures that influenced us, through collage. This is to prompt a conversation of Black liberation as a reality not yet fulfilled. Their works demystify the weightier conversations of Black people’s erasure from future spaces, by creating images that are to be interpreted through a visually strange or obscure discourse. By centralizing Black people within the narrative BLACKMAU prompts the audience to imagine themselves in the spaces with the subject.
Artist Statement
bla(CK)mau is the trio of Stacey “BLACKSTAR” Robinson, Christopher “DJ CK” Kinson, and Kamau “DJ Kamaumau” Grantham,. Combining their artistic strengths and creative pursuits together, they conjure sonic spells, vast visualizations, and entrancing events. Their work is steeped in Blackness in all its identities at all times and seeks to explore the realm of placemaking for Black folks.
Stacey A. Robinson, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was a 2019-2020 Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellow at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center for African & African American Research and completed his MFA at the University at Buffalo in 2015. His work discusses decolonized Black futures. Illustrated books include: ‘I Am Alfonso Jones’ written by Tony Medina (2017) Lee & Low Books, and ‘Across the Tracks: Remembering Greenwood, Black Wall Street, and the Tulsa Race Massacre’, written Alverne Ball (2021) Abrams Books. Exhibitions include: Ascension of Black Stillness (CEPA Gallery) and The Black Angel of History (Carnegie Hall) 2022.
Christopher Kinson, PhD, is a proud Albany, GA native and a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a former NSF Graduate Research Fellow, he values diversity in STEM and challenges new students through curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking to advocate for themselves in their own education. As a DJ and music producer, his musical
inclinations are immediately recognized as Black diasporic music from the past,
contemporary pop, and futuristic sonics. On his radio program, The Blackest Hour, he takes listeners on a journey to and from the dance floor with his uniquely crafted blends and mixes. More
Kamau Grantham, Ph. D. Trained as a clinical psychologist, Kamau Grantham finds solace creating music and art. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, & spending most of his adult life in NYC, Grantham grew-up watching his mother draw with colored chalk and listening to his father play soul and jazz records. Using his background as a DJ, Grantham creates digital collages grounded [in] music, science fiction, and film to celebrate the Black body and center it within visual worlds he finds aesthetically pleasing. Through his art he aims to celebrate the humanity and beauty in Black people and to inspire others to create. More
The Musician Who Sat By the Door
Golden Lady
ICU
I Wonder if Heaven Got a Disco
Selection of Her Thoughts aka Her Mind Spins
Guilt Trip
In the Sunshine
Kids & Pyramids
Living in the City
Space and Gold
Temple of Stevie
UNADJUSTEDNOWRAW
Warrior's Dance
Waves Night Out
Black Boy on the Other Side of Time (Tribute to George Stinney Jr.)
Coordinates Unknown
Cosmic Drip
Drapetomaniac
Jumping into it
Living in the City 2
Sista Soldier
The Portal
Saving Space
UNITE
Chasing You Through Cosmic Waterfalls
Heavy is the Crown Royal
Hey Cuz
Madame Butterfly
Miles' Day
Orange Crush
Sea Line Woman
The Sweetest Thing
Thirst
Sapio Splash
My Life (aka Black Star Line)
Feedback Loop
BLXGlitch (aka Alt-Right-Delete)
Parting the Cosmic Sea
The Altar
Sun Ra's Intergalactic, Planetary, Planetary, Intergalactic Arkestra
Great Whites
Dark Horizon
Show Me How They Look Like
Pathways Forward