COMMISSIONS
CONTACT: info@hemagaia.com
Hello • My name is Hema Gaia. I am a queer, nonbinary, multimedia artist and electronic musician born and based in Raleigh, North Carolina. My art practice intends to probe dialogue on the relationships our society holds with non-human animals and their habitats. I am curious about this particularly anthropocentric moment in our evolutionary history and utilize art as a means to contemplate the space we occupy and the matter we alter.
My latest gallery installation CARNIVORE GAMES utilizes paintings, alterations, video, and digital art pieces to explore our evolving relationship with the production and consumption of animal meat.
I produce music solo and in Sand Pact with my long-term collaborator Alex Fresa where we test the thresholds of sound and art. Through my now composted audio/visual project Gudiya, I explored culture and belonging as a queer, South Asian femme.
I work with the organization Girls Rock North Carolina to provide art-making resources and education to girls, trans youth, and gender-expansive youth in the area. Through this organization I have led workshops, facilitated teams, given talks, and provided digital media education to youth.
I am open to collaborating with artists, activists, nonprofits, and institutions who are scattering seeds for a better future. Read more about my offerings here.
SELECT PIECES + ENGAGEMENTS
EDUCATION
2018 / BA in Graphic Design, College of Design, North Carolina State University
EXHIBITIONS / INSTALLATIONS
2022 / Every Vote Everywhere All At Once (group show), NC Asian Americans Together and Run AAPI, Stafford Commons, NC State University, Raleigh NC
2022 / CARNIVORE GAMES, Slug Space, Chapel Hill NC
2020 / LETHAL VISION (group show), Slug Space, Chapel Hill NC
EXPERIMENTAL PERFORMANCE ART
2021 / Timecheck by Gudiya, 20-min audio/video composition and virtual performance, Music Gallery Toronto
2020 / The In-Between by Sand Pact, 55-min dance score composition, Shaleigh Dance Works
2019 / Tracer by Gudiya, 40-min audio/video composition and live performance, Hopscotch Music Festival
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS / WORKSHOPS
2022 / Keynote Speaker, The Association of Creative Technologies in Academic Libraries Conference, NC State University Libraries, Raleigh NC
2019 / Workshop Instructor and Performer, WVKR: P1NK N01SEZ, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY
2018 / Panelist and Workshop Instructor, Ableton University Tour, NC State University Libraries, Raleigh NC
CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
2020 - Current / Team Coordinator, Girls Rock North Carolina, Raleigh-Durham, NC
2022 / Cultural Co-Director, Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh, Raleigh, NC
2017 - 2019 / Board of Directors, South Carolina Youth Action Project, Charleston SC
TEACHING AND ART EDUCATION
2022 - Current / Music Elective Teacher, Central Park School for Children Middle School, Durham NC
2018 - 2019 / Camp Director, Girls Rock NC, Durham, NC
2017-2019 / Digital Media Consultant, NC State University Libraries, Raleigh NC