User Profile

damali ayo is an emerging, fresh and poignant voice on dismantling oppression and catalyzing social change. damali engages these issues by creating accessible, interactive "Now Art." Her approach to art involves viewers as participants in the art-making process while generating dialogue. damali's award-winning work has been shown at galleries across the world. She has spoken to Colleges, High Schools, Non-profits and communities in 20 U.S. states and Canada about race, diversity, art and eco-living. damali and her work have been featured in over 100 publications world-wide including Harpers, the Village Voice, Salon.com, the Washington Post, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, CSPAN2's Book TV.

damali has worked as a professional diversity trainer, team leader, program developer and camp director, but chose to become an artist as an effective means of achieving progress. In 2003 damali created the internationally acclaimed web-art-performance rent-a-negro.com, which explores the commodification of race and the interactions between blacks and whites in society. damali's book, How to Rent a Negro was acclaimed as "one of the most trenchant and amusing commentaries on contemporary race relations." Her book was granted a 2005 Honorable Mention in the Outstanding Book Awards from the Gustavus Meyers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. Her radio work "Living Flag: Panhandling for Reparations" won a Silver Reel Award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.

In 2006 damali ayo left traditional art gallery representation and named her particular approach to art "Now Art." She describes Now Art as being immediate, accessible and engaging social issues. Much of ayo's Now Art is participatory and free. Ayo believes that "art should make you think and feel." She eschews art that is merely for decoration or profit. She believes that artists' true place is at the forefront of social change movements. In 2007 damali created Now Art Grants, a program that combines small donations of a large number of individuals then grants that money to artists engaged in social change.


damali's work communicates a relentless desire to engage the world and generate authentic experiences for society. She strives to create a shift in viewers' perspectives on our world and their position within it. She says, "When we are handed a mirror, we see ourselves and the culture that surrounds us. We can look away or we can look deeply, realizing we have been given an opportunity to change anything in our view. It is the responsibility of art to be that mirror."

damali is an avid gardener and strives to live a life in harmony with principles of sustainability. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her adopted dog, Stevie.

contact damali to speak or just drop her a line at info@damaliayo.com