Reyna Brown is an alchemist who creates mixed media artworks and installations to transform emotional trauma. As a practitioner of Ifá, a spiritual tradition derived from West Africa, Reyna uses her artistic practice as a means of communing with and honoring her ancestors. By tackling issues such as systemic racism, addiction, and mass incarceration, her art speaks truth to power while opening a pathway to healing for those engaging with her creations. Painting, glass blowing, ceramic sculpting, beading, embroidery and installation are just a few of the many forms Reyna’s artistic practice takes shape. Led by spirit, she allows the messages on her heart to tell her how they need to be brought to life. 

 

Rooted in community based theater, Reyna has a strong background incorporating dance, music, and creative writing to uplift untold stories and resist harmful narratives in our society. She has worked with youth K-12, adults, and system impacted families to nurture pathways for creative expression.

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In addition to her work as a visual and performing artist, Reyna is a skilled circle keeper who knows how to facilitate from a trauma informed perspective. She leads with empathy and compassion as she shares knowledge, offers intentional leadership, and draws community members closer together. By activating groups and individuals with creative expression and storytelling, she nurtures personal growth within the circle while meeting the diverse needs of the space. 

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Raised surrounded by strawberry fields in Oxnard, California, Reyna is a Queer, Black, Chicana mother with a fierce devotion to her community. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Performing Arts and Social Justice, with a concentration in Theater and a minor in Peace and Justice Studies.  She most recently graduated with an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

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