Aquarius Funkk is an interdisciplinary artist creating performance, video, photography, digital art and wearable art. Known as The Interplanetary Extraordinary, they are an expansive being who channels the cosmos through a radical, queer, Afrosurrealist lens.
Aquarius is a deep believer in the signs and synchronicities of the universe. They corporeally deconstruct the politics of gender, race, sexuality, identity, and class. They build (and destroy) layered personas and worlds meant to be experienced as both static images, cabaret performances, and durational installations.
Aquarius’s work is influenced by Afrofuturism and Black culture, queer lived experiences, high fashion, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. They are rooted in radical tenderness, experimentation, and body intelligence. Their work is an amalgamation of movement, ritual, and layering of multi-sensory elements; shaped by the practices and traditions of vogue ballroom, neo-burlesque, street performance, and experimental dance.
Aquarius has worked extensively with performance art troupe La Pocha Nostra since 2016. Their performance film, A Letter To America, From a Parallel Universe, was featured in the 2021 Open Art Festival online exhibition, and their performance film Deep Fake was screened in the 2022 Videoaktion film festival in Berlin, Germany. They produced Opulence Mini Ball in Portland, Maine in August 2024, Black Pride celebration featuring Arabella Ladesse, Cinnamon Maxxine, Onyx Reigns, Rosie Havoc and Liza May. Aquarius is currently presenting a new solo work entitled The Lone Flamingo, a surrealist autobiography of solitude and spiritual transformation.
Opulence Mini Ball - SPACE Gallery, Portland Maine - August 2024
'The Lone Flamingo', presented at OUTsider Festival - The Vortex, Austin, TX - February 2024
Epicenter Revolutions with Concordia University Ph.D. candidate Holly Timpener - Mexico City, Mexico - February 2024
Lxs Meserx - Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico - June 2023 - Live Performance
Anti-Pride, presented by Manifestaciones - Mérida, México - June 2023
La Historia de la Madera de Cereza - Oaxaca de Juarez & Guadalajara, Mexico - October & November 2022
Epicenter Revolutions with Concordia University Ph.D. candidate Holly Timpener - Guadalajara, Mexico - April 2022
Horrific! Halloween Drive in Burlesque Show - Thomas Point Campground, Brunswick, ME - October 2020
La Pocha Nostra Live Art and Film Marathon - Live Virtual Performance Screening - August 2020
Todos Somos Aliens, presented by La Pocha Nostra - Dos Casas Garage, San Miguel de Allende, MX - December 2019
A Museum of Fetishized Identities, presented by La Pocha Nostra - Paseo Festival, Taos, NM - September 2019
Noche De Cabaret - VC & Friends, San Miguel de Allende, MX - August 2019
Kiki Ball - Maine Center for Electronic Music, Portland, ME - June 2019
Pink and Proud Cocktail Party - El Colibri Bar, Puerto Vallarta, MX - May 2019
Opera Sacramental presented by La Pocha Nostra - Museo de Ciudad, Queretaro, MX - December 2018
Smoke and Shadows Burlesque & Variety Show - The Rockwell Theatre, Somerville, MA - September 2018
Get Free Mini Ball & Dance Party - Mechanics Hall, Portland, ME - June 2018
Look! Big Queer Variety Show - Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME - June 2018
Queer Abstract - Starr Bar, Brooklyn, NY - April 2018
Danza Vida Presents 'Transient Bodies' - Bellas Artes, San Miguel De Allende, MX - November 2016
La Calaca Festival & Lady Zen present 'Requiem For The Disco' - San Miguel De Allende, MX - October 2016
'Uroboro' - Locura, Imaginacion y Extasis, presented by La Pocha Nostra - ISSSTE, Guanajuato, MX - October 2016
'El Otro Cervatino' presented by La Pocha Nostra - Bar La Inundación de 1905, Guanajuato, MX - September 2016
Post Nacional: Reencuentro 10.0 with La Pocha Nostra - San Miguel De Allende, MX - May 2016
Hi Tiger Presents "I'm Trying." A Full Synesthesia - Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland ME - January 2016
Surrealist Dinner Party - Out Of The Blue Gallery, Cambridge, MA - December 2015
Naughty Elves Burlesque Hosted by Holly Danger - Mayo Street Arts Center, Portland, ME - December 2015
Port City Peep Show presented by Moxie Sazerac & Friends - Portland House of Music, Portland, ME - October 2015
People's Climate Music 'Act On Climate' Bus Tour - Congress Square Park, Portland, ME - September 2015
Speakeasy Burlesque & Cabaret - Studio 55, Portland, ME - June-Aug 2015
MESH: Zippers & Chains Cabaret - One Longfellow Square, Portland, ME - June 2015
Portland is Burning: Portland's First Annual Vogue Ball - Mechanics Hall, Portland, ME - June 2015
Pride! Portland Presents Rocky Horror Picture Show - One Longfellow Square, Portland, ME - June 2015
Pride! Portland Launch Party: Planet Queer! - Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME - May 2015
The Rosie and Kinky Show: Travel Through Time - Geno's Rock Club, Portland, ME - April 2015
Rocky Horror Picture Show - One Longfellow Square, Portland, ME - January 2015
USM 15th Annual Royal Majesty Drag Show - Holiday Inn By The Bay, Portland, ME - November 2014
MESH, Leather & Lace: A Debutante Cabaret - One Longfellow Square, Portland, ME - November 2014
Damnationland Film Festival - State Theatre, Portland, ME - October 2014
Penthouse Dance Party - Empire, Portland, ME - July 2014
Requiem For The Disco - Grace, Portland, ME - June 2014
Stripwrecked Burlesque Presents: Peep Show - April 2014
Lady Zen Sings Sade - Empire, Portland, ME - Feb 2014
Penthouse Dance Party - Empire, Portland, ME - January 2014 - Featured Performer
#Whateveryouwant Dance Party - Slainte, Portland, ME - November 2013
Save Congress Square Protest - Congress Square, Portland, ME - September 2013
Fashion Parade, presented by Wear San Miguel - Hacienda Los Archangeles, San Miguel de Allende, MX - November 2023
Sueño Lucido Volume 2, presented by Aviesc - Fabrica Morelos, Guadalajara, MX - July 2021
Sueño Lucido Volume 1, presented by Aviesc - Museo Cabañas, Guadalajara, MX - June 2021
Fashion Show Verano - El Colibri Bar, Puerto Vallarta, MX - May 2019
‘Dress Code’ 5th Annual DapperQ NYFW Show, for Stuzo Clothing - Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn NY - September 2018
Fashion & Design Night SMA 2017 - Zaguan, San Miguel De Allende - January 2017
GIFF 'Project Glamour' Red Carpet, Model for Armour Jewelry - Teatro Juarez, Guanajuato, MX - July 2016
MECAmorphosis 2015 Senior Thesis Exhibition & Fashion Show - Maine College of Art, Portland, ME - May 2015
Allure Fashion Show, by Shannyn Elizabeth Productions & Dolce Presents - Bubble Lounge, San Francisco, CA - March 2015
VIDEOAKTION #3 produced by Attaqueer Le Visible, Berlin Germany - “Deep Fake” performance film - September 2022
A Letter to America, From a Parallel Universe - Exhibited at Open Art 2021 Festival Online - September 2021
‘How a Kid From Rural Maine Became a Fixture of New York’s Vogue Ballroom Scene’ - Bangor Daily News - June 2019
Medium Format Magazine - October 2018 - Print Magazine
’Ultraglam in the Shower’ - Ellements Body V2 - July 2018 - Online & Print Magazine
'This is Yoga' for Lululemon, filmed by Vice - Mexico City - June 2017
Tao Studio Joyas by Miguel Arregui - Revista FANG, San Miguel De Allende, MX - December 2016 - pg 60 & 64
Alessando Alviani 'Art To Wear' - THIS: Travel & Style, San Miguel De Allende, MX - Sept/Oct 2016 - pg 88-89 , 95-99
Maine to Mexico Pictoral with K Tyson Perez & Hardwear Style- Unvogue Magazine - February 2016
Lively Ferments Feature, Portland Magazine - Portland, ME - October 2015
'Beyond the Rainbow" Feature in Dispatch Magazine - Portland, ME - June 2015 - Featured Contributor and Cover Image
Afropunk 'Afro of the Day' #740 - Feburary 2015
Afropunk ‘Afro of the Day’ #601 - September 2014