A little bit about me...
okay, a lotta bit.

Bio

KeTia Star Harris is a Black American visual artist, born and raised in Miami, Florida.  Her use of primarily traditional (acrylic and oil paint, graphite, charcoal) and digital mediums allow for her exploration and growing, vulnerable, presentation of the relationship with self, community, and Spirit.

Her formal education includes a concentration in Fashion Design & Illustration from Design & Architecture Senior High in 2007; a BA in Religion & Studio Art from Florida Southern College in 2011; and an MPH from Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work at Florida International University in 2021.

She is intentional about increasing awareness and improving capacity of communities to then be empowered in making informed decisions about their individual and collective selves.  This includes serving the majority of her lifetime as a member of Sellers Memorial United Methodist Church, where messages and acts of liberation, justice, and love continue to inspire her art; and serving 20 years in public health, where the integration of design and art has become fundamental in her unique approach to health promotion.

KeTia’s greatest joy and pleasure is being mom of a beautiful, smart, comical girl, whose own passion and intentionality for art and life continues to inspire her.  KeTia strives for Kuumba—the sixth principle of Kwanzaa meaning “creativity”, described by Dr. Maulana Karenga as “to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.”

Statement

It is important for me to see myself in my art–visually, conceptually, and culturally.  This means prioritizing the representation of Black and Brown figures and ideas that are significant to me as a woman, a Black woman, a member of the African Diaspora; as a Christian; as someone born and raised in the US; with Caribbean roots; born and raised in Miami-Dade County.  Many of my conceptual works contain “easter eggs”, or references that may only be familiar and relevant to those who share these lived experiences or identify similarly as I do, while still maintaining the capacity to be received and appreciated universally.

My work serves to appreciate, elevate, and evolve all that is me and my culture, while also highlighting challenges, disparities, and insecurities faced in these spaces.  My art is an avenue for awareness, promotion, and advocacy.  I hope that my works are received as beautiful, aesthetically, while also evoking visceral, emotional responses.

I am thankful for my God-given, community-nurtured gift, and appreciate the opportunity to use it purposefully, freely, and unapologetically.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

DEC 2021 MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Florida International University, Miami, FL

APR 2011 BACHELOR OF ARTS, RELIGION & STUDIO ART
Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL

MAY 2007 SUPERINTENDENT’S DIPLOMA OF DISTINCTION, FASHION DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION
Design & Architecture Senior High School, Miami, FL

Related Experience

FREELANCE ARTIST | PRESENT
Art & Design by KeTia Star, Miami, FL

ART & ADVOCACY CO-CHAIRPERSON & CURATOR | PRESENT
BreastfeedMIAMI, Miami, FL

GROUP & PROJECT COORDINATOR | 01/2015 – 05/2015
OneUnited Mural Project, Miami, FL

ILLUSTRATOR, EDITOR, & ADMINISTRATOR | 04/2012 – 12/2014
Dyaspora Speaks-Out Production, Little Haiti, FL

MINISTRY COORDINATOR, WHAT’S THE WORD!? MINISTRY | 06/2011 – 12/2013
Sellers Memorial United Methodist Church, Miami, FL

CAMP COUNSELOR, CREATION STATION | 12/2010 – 01/2013
Sellers Memorial United Methodist Church, Miami, FL

ART STAFF, EDITOR  & JUDGE, CANTILEVERS: JOURNAL OF THE ARTS | FAL 2008 – WIN 2009
Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL

DESIGNER, SPECTRUM 2007 FASHION SHOW | 04/2007
Design & Architecture Senior High, Miami, FL

ASSISTANT INTERN | 09/2006 – 05/2007
Darlyne Chauve @ Warehaus NOW

Awards & Recognition

Exhibitions & Shows

Collections

Publication Mentions

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST