Ariah Henderson

Born and raised in the East Bay, Ariah's research draws on the cultural richness of her upbringing. She explores food as a performance mechanism and means of resistance in creative communities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Her background in casual fine dining and dance studies guides her inquiries into how culture and memory are represented through communal food practices, the role of hospitality in cultural transformation, and the hidden narratives of Black and queer artists in avant-garde performance art. Ultimately, her work is fueled by a desire to reimagine how food can create more accessible community work and an unwavering desire to feed and be fed.