A Conversation with Favianna Rodriguez: World-Making through Decolonial Feminist Artivism

Abstract:This essay is a conversation with Favianna Rodriguez, an award-winning transdisciplinary artist, cultural organizer, and social justice activist based in Oakland, California. Favianna's projects include visual and public art, writing, cultural organizing, and building power via institutions. Along with her extensive studio practice, she is the co-founder and president of The Center for Cultural Power, a US-based organization that empowers artists to disrupt the status quo and ignite social change. The interview highlights decolonizing feminist world-making possibilities in Favianna's art and activism (or artivism) while traveling through critical topics, such as food, porn, and psychedelics. Committed to the principles of a decolonial feminist praxis, one goal of the essay is to contribute to transcending the coloniality of gender through solidarity and collaboration. Another purpose is to advance conocimiento and inspire others to (continue to) enact decolonial feminisms to further transform.