Sierra King lives and works as an artist, archivist and curator in Atlanta, GA, and holds a BA in Art from Valdosta State University. She is currently a Social Justice For Archivist Scholar at The University of Alabama in the Masters of Library Science and Information Program.
Her interdisciplinary practice presents photographic and archival installations in site specific spaces that hold reverence to the land in how it’s kept and being preserved. She is interested in collaborating with Black Women and people to explore speculative narratives inside the gaps of history, the liminal spaces and fragmented memories.
She made her curatorial debut in 2020 with MINT Gallery in Atlanta,GA, where she mounted a group exhibition here.there.everywhere: A multidimensional portrait of the journey towards Black Futurity. King was the co-curator for New Worlds - Georgia Women to Watch alongside Melissa Messina showcased the work of 5 Georgia-based women artists.
She has presented her work about art and community archiving at the 2018 American Studies Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, the 2021 Memory Work for Black Lives Plenary presented by University of Oregon Library Archives for Black Lives: A Liberated Archives Exhibition and the 2023 Art Libraries Society of North America 51st Conference in Mexico City, Mexico.
In 2024 she was selected to join thirty-nine other talented leaders from 20 different states around the country in the Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing, Where they will take on work relative to narrative change, racial healing and relationship building, separation, law, and the economy.
She serves as the founder and principal archivist of Build Your Archive.
BIOGRAPHY
lives and works in Atlanta,GA
1992 - Born in Atlanta,GA
EDUCATION:
2024 - The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa,AL
Social Justice for Archivist Scholar
Master of Library & Information Sciences, Archival Studies CRT
2014 - Valdosta State University, Valdosta,GA
Bachelor of Arts, Art
ACADEMIC SERVICE:
2014 - Photo Editor
Valdosta State University Student Newspaper, Valdosta,GA
RESEARCH AND ARCHIVING:
2020 - Billops-Hatch Fellowship
Emory University, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, Camille Billops and James V. Hatch Archive
2018 - States of Emergence, American Studies Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta,GA
Presidential Session: Visualizing Revolution: Building the Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver Family Archive
2017 - Photo Archivist
The Eldrigde and Kathleen Neal Cleaver Family Photo Archive
Grant Funded Project - University of California, Berkeley
Kathleen Cleaver, Leigh Raiford, Robin J. Hayes, John Stephens, Lia Biscomb, Tierra Thompson, Stephine Alvarado, Delphine Sims
CURATORIAL:
Forthcoming - The World(s) She Made: Composing the Lives of Kathleen Cleaver
2024 - a kin to red dirt on white carpets, a solo exhibition jasmine nicole williams
Swancoach House Gallery, Decatur,GA
2023 - New Worlds - Georgia Women to Watch
Co-Curator: Melissa Messina, Georgia Committee of National Museum of Women in the Arts, Atlanta Contemporary Museum, Atlanta,GA
2020 - here. there. everywhere. group exhibition
FEATURED ARTISTS: RITA MERCER | EBONY BLANDING | SIERRA BUSH | ELLEX SWAVONI | JAZMINE HAYES | MWANDISHA GATOR
| JASMINE NICOLE WILLIAMS | CHANDLER STEPHENS | TOYA BEACHAM | NATRICE MILLER | STEPHANIE BROWN
MINT Gallery, Atlanta,GA
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2018 - Arts + Activism Workshop Facilitator
Center For Civil Human Rights, Atlanta,GA
SOLO EXHIBITION:
2017 - to whom much is given, TILA Studios, East Point, GA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2019 - The High Rise Show, ShowerHaus Gallery, Fulton County Arts, TILA Studios, Atlanta,GA
2019 - If I Told You, Medium Arts ATL, Atlanta,GA
2018 - Ain't I A Woman, TILA Studios, East Point, GA
2017 - Kazuko, Argah Noah, Atlanta, GA
2017 - State of the Art: Atlanta, Facet Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2016 - The Divine Feminine, TILA Studios, East Point, GA
2016 - Elevate: Awaken, Gallery 72, Atlanta, GA
PANELS AND ARTIST TALKS:
2019 - If I Told You, Beacon ATL, Atlanta,GA
2018 - Ain't I A Woman, TILA Studios, East Point,GA
2017 - to whom much is given, TILA Studios, East Point, GA
2016 - Elevate: Awaken, Gallery 72, Atlanta, GA
AWARDS + GRANTS :
2020 - NBAF Project Fund - National Black Arts Festival
2020 - BIPOC Artist Grant - Burnaway
2020 - Artists Administrators of Color Network Emergency Fund
2020 - Inaugural Scholarship Recipient - Nomadic Archivist Project
2020 - Archivist Relief Emergency Fund - Society of American Archivist
2020 - Artists and Activist Relief Fund - The Soze Agency
2020 - Atlanta Artist Lost Gig Fund - C4 Atlanta
2020 - Brenda S. Banks Educational Workshop Scholarship - Society of Georgia Archivist
RESIDENCIES, MEMBERSHIPS + FELLOWSHIPS:
2024 - Culture of Health Leadership Insititute for Racial Healing
Cohort 3 Member
2023 - Remerge Atlanta
Artist-in-Residence
2022 - Emory Arts and Social Justice Fellowship
Artist Fellow
2021 - Hambidge Cross Pollination Art Lab
Studio Resident in collboration with jasmine nicole williams
2020 - Hambidge Center Residency
Artist-In-Residence
2020 - Museum Education Practicum - Studio Museum in Harlem
2020 Cohort Member
2020 - Society of American Archivist
Member
2020 - Society of Georgia Archivist
Member
2018 - Hatch Training Intensive for Artists working in the community - C4 Atlanta
2018 Cohort Member
2014 - Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Inc.
Sigma Iota Chapter of Valdosta State University
Brother
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:
2018 - Camp Photographer
Chop Art Camp Envision, Arts Camp for homeless youth, Athens, GA
2016 - Camp Photographer
Chop Art Camp Envision, Arts Camp for homeless youth, Meansville,GA
PUBLICATIONS:
2016 - "A Letter To The Hearts of This Generation", Rob Hill Sr. , Blkcreatives, Online publication
2015 - Submerge | Healing, photo narrative, Black Girl in Om, Online Publication
2015 - Grandmama's Suitcase, Black Girl in Om, Online Publication