Kamisha Thomas
RAG Cofounder, Filmmaker, Artist, Prison Abolitionist, and Teaching Artist
About
Kamisha Thomas, a multidisciplinary artist from Columbus, Ohio, draws inspiration from her personal experiences as a second-generation survivor of the carceral system. After serving seven and a half years in prison, she co-founded the Returning Artists Guild (RAG) with Aimee Wissman to sustain the sense of community she found in prison arts programs. A passionate advocate for prison abolition and artist empowerment, Kamisha has received the Art for Justice and Right of Return grants for her work. She is committed to amplifying marginalized voices and creating art that challenges societal norms. Through her practice, she explores the therapeutic power of artistic expression while using it as a tool to dismantle systems of oppression, particularly those targeting Black and Brown communities
Films
BANG!
Produced, written and directed from Dayton Correctional Institution
Silence is Consent: The Crime
Created with funding from Right of Return USA – Year 3 Fellow
Silence is Consent: The Indictment
Created with funding from Art For Justice Fund
Artist Statement
My films, stories, poetry, skits, and scripts are inspired by my own and others’ personal experiences. Some of the “others” are similar to me, while others are utterly different. Whatever our differences, we all have one thing in common: we are human. My purpose is to confront my audience with their own humanity, ego, and privilege, just as I do every day. We must reflect on ourselves, express ourselves, and respect ourselves and others.
Self-expression is required for development and transformation. My artistic voice has evolved to the point where people can “feel” where the other is coming from. Understanding and comprehension are two of the cornerstones to living in harmony. Self-expression through art will bring in total unconditional acceptance among all classes and creeds.
Artwork
Broken Thrones, Stolen Crowns – a collaboration with Aimee Wissman
Leave Your Dignity On the Floor – video installation