Takeya Trayer

Takeya will create Taki Mam, a series of animations where the main character is a non-white, bisexual, pregnant action figure. The cartoon will address feminist values, inequality, esoteric journeys, and gender roles defined by society and outlandish situations with sexual partners. The project is motivated by lack of representation of gender non-conforming folks, pregnant “studs” and masculine female parents in the media and in the animation industry.

Takeya creates artistic work that challenges the aesthetic “invisibilization” of queer and trans lives.  Takeya uses a range of mediums and works across disciplines.  “My work includes acrylic painting, photography, music, poetry, creative writing, animation, video and computer generated art.”  Takeya uses the experience of feeling exiled and transforms that experience into productive and resilient artistic passion and energy.  Takeya is able to spotlight “stories from an ethnic female masculine of center parent perspective,” and believes in creating art “not for financial gain, but for social disruption, for exposure and to create a voice for myself who is the underrepresented.”  Takeya hopes to continue expanding on previous work, such as the painting Stand Up For Everyone in novel and innovative ways.  “I already feel that I am on the verge of something huge, this could be that push aiding my transition along.”

Takeya will use visual arts and poetry to document her story as a multi-ethnic, queer, and masculine woman experiencing pregnancy. The end result will be artwork that questions the binary stereotypes that Takeya perceives to exist within the LGBTQ community and society in general. Her goals are to show the work in galleries, at conferences, and online as a step toward eradicating ignorance and discrimination.