Se’mana Thompson
Se’mana Thompson is an Akimel Otham/Hopi/Diné self-taught artist + zine maker based in their homelands, O’Otham Jeved, Gila River Indian Community. They began creating art in 2016. First and foremost Se’mana uses collage, portrait art, and illustration as survival work to heal from trauma throughout their life. They are very outspoken about the impact of incarceration of their children on their family and use collage in particular as a way to process, grieve, and heal. Much of Se’mana’s illustration work is based on family & cultural history. To represent and leave a legacy for their children, Se’mana’s collage work depicts mainly Black Indigenous peoples. A lot of Se’mana’s work is centered around incarcerated peoples particularly children, ancestral energies, and windows looking in, out, and toward Black Indigenous futurisms. They are currently the curator of The People’s Zine Library a tiny zine library by & for Black, Indigenous and People of Color.