Kira Lynn Harris facts for kids

Kira Lynn Harris (born 1963, died 2024) was an amazing African-American artist. She created art using many different materials, which is why she's called a "mixed-media" artist. Kira lived and worked in New York City.

About Kira Lynn Harris

Kira Lynn Harris was born in 1963 in Los Angeles, California. She passed away in 2024 in New York City when she was 61 years old.

Kira studied art at two great universities. First, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Later, in 1998, she received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Art from the California Institute of the Arts.

Kira's Art Career

Kira Lynn Harris showed her art in many places. She had her own shows and was part of group shows in the United States, Italy, Canada, and South Africa.

She also spent time as an artist-in-residence. This means she was invited to live and work at special art places. Some of these places include the Studio Museum in Harlem (2001–2002) and the Center for Photography at Woodstock (2004).

Her art was displayed in famous galleries like MoMA PS1 and the Miami Art Museum. She also took part in important group exhibitions such as "Blues for Smoke" at the MoCA and the Whitney Museum.

What Makes Her Art Special?

Art critics, who write about art, often called Kira's work "minimal." This means her art used simple shapes and ideas. She used installations (art that fills a space), drawings, photos, and videos.

Kira wanted to explore ideas about space, light, and how we experience things. She also thought about how people see themselves in the world. She often used shiny materials like mirrors or silver leaf. These materials helped to show off the building or room where her art was.

Kira explained her art by saying, "My projects often provide a disorienting encounter for the viewer." She wanted people to feel a bit confused and then find their way again. She did this by changing how a space felt. She used light and reflective surfaces. She also liked to flip things around, like making the inside feel like the outside.

Who Influenced Kira's Art?

Kira said that other artists inspired her. These included James Turrell and Mark Rothko. She also admired the Hudson River School painters, who were known for their beautiful landscape paintings.

She mentioned that growing up in Los Angeles, California, influenced her love for light. She said, "A lot of my interest in light came from being from Los Angeles, where the light is just everywhere."

Kira also found ideas in science fiction stories and movies. Films like Metropolis and Mad Max also gave her ideas for her art.

Kira's Artworks

Here are some of the artworks Kira Lynn Harris created:

• Interstices, 1997 (shown at Rosamund Fesen Gallery)
• 96 Degrees in the Shade, 2001
• Void, River, Nocturne, 2001
• Falling Up, 2003
• Waterfall, 2005 (displayed at MoMa PS1)
• Crescendo, 2006
• Untitled (Pyramid), 2007 (exhibited at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston)
• Just Beyond Reality, 2009 (shown at CUE Art Foundation in New York City)
• The Block, 2011

Awards and Recognition

Kira Lynn Harris won several awards for her talent.

• In 1998, she received the Lorser Feitelson Emerging Artist award. This award helps new artists who are just starting out.
• In 2003, she won the Harvestworks artist-in-residence video production grant. This grant helped her create video art.

Kira's Personal Life

Kira Lynn Harris lived in New York City, New York. Besides making her own art, she also loved teaching. She taught art to both high school and college students.

She was an assistant professor in the Department of Art and Music at John Jay College. She also taught art as part of the Art Faculty at the Nightingale-Bamford School.