Marcelese Cooper
Marcelese Cooper’s artistry is an interstellar exploration of identity, community, and the black/brown narrative, deeply influenced by their experiences as a young, black, queer individual in the U.S. Their work, blending dreams, science-fiction, and surreal art-house cinema, manifests in theatrical makeup, optical illusions, and compelling performances. As an artist and educator in Digital Media Production at Gannon University, Cooper merges storytelling with time-based media, nurturing the next generation of storytellers.
Cooper's recent artistic journey includes ventures into 2D animation, video art, and experimentations in sound. They are "the three kids in a trenchcoat" behind STORY DRIVE, a community project transforming anonymous voicemails into monthly video art pieces, creating a constellation of individual stories in a shared universe of voices. This innovative approach exemplifies Cooper's commitment to integrating community narratives into their art.
Cooper's works, celebrated for their metaphysical exploration and dark humor, have been showcased across the United States in festivals, galleries, and various outdoor sites. Their art, a vibrant dance with reality, invites intense emotion and the thrill of creative expression. Through their art and teaching, Cooper continues to push the boundaries of narrative storytelling, resonating with audiences and inspiring new forms of artistic expression.