“To the Ones We Forgot”, 2024 | Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, New York, NY
Ang R. Bennett (b. 1990, Little Rock, AR) is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, actor, athlete, certified doula, and queer activist whose work examines the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality. With a practice rooted in both introspection and research, Bennett’s art explores identity through personal narrative and collective history. Their portfolio includes Body Defiance, a collaborative photo exhibition with Sheree Le’Shawn, accompanied by a mini documentary that examines masculinity through the lens of individuals who are Black and were assigned female at birth. Family Portraits, a twelve-piece painting exhibition, honors the tenderness and connection within Black family life, using bold color, gold leaf, and storybook-inspired illustrations to reframe perceptions of Black love and intimacy.
Notably, Bennett’s work is featured in the Stonewall National Monument Visitor's Center, the first LGBTQ2IA+ center within the National Park System. They were a contributor to Project 270, a national Get Out the Vote campaign, organized by Mana Public Arts.
Bennett is a heavy contributor to the thriving Omaha arts scene, serving as the board Vice-President at BFF Omaha since 2022. Additionally, Bennett has held the position of Visual Arts Chair for the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards since 2021, transitioning from a shared co-chair role, and is actively engaged as a member of both the Amplify Arts Community Advisory Group and Opera Omaha Community Panel. Bennett also serves on the board of Voices in Alliance, Omaha's first and only LGBTQ2IA+ theatre company.
When not creating or being on the arts scene, Bennett is an athlete for the DII National Champion Nebraska Pride [women’s] football team of the Women’s Football Alliance and has been playing full-pad tackle football since 2015.
“At its core, my art serves as a conduit for self-exploration and an examination of the intricate intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. It is my hope that through my creative endeavors, I can contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and compassionate world.”