In the heart of Oakland, California—on the unceded lands of the Chochenyo Ohlone peoples—emerges the transformative voice of Sharmi Basu, a multimedia performance artist, curator, composer, and the executive director of Vital Arts. With their groundbreaking performances and community-driven initiatives, Sharmi has become a beacon of resilience, artistry, and liberation for marginalized voices around the world.
Their creative practice is rooted in vulnerability, accountability, and the lived experiences of diaspora. Through sound and performance, Sharmi weaves narratives that challenge colonial frameworks and open pathways to healing, empowerment, and collective liberation.
Sharmi Basu: Beast Nest – Art as Transformation of Trauma
At the core of Sharmi Basu’s artistic identity lies Beast Nest, their primary performance project. This body of work explores the immaterial yet heavy weight of trauma, showing how darkness and despair can be alchemized into art and soundscapes that both haunt and heal.
Their performances are not mere expressions of sound but deeply immersive experiences—sonic rituals that challenge the patriarchy, channel ancestral voices, and guide audiences into confronting the raw textures of grief, vulnerability, and fear. In this process, Sharmi demonstrates that creation itself is a powerful vehicle for liberation.
Workshops and Decolonial Practice
Beyond the stage, Sharmi Basu dedicates their energy to empowering others through workshops that center on decolonizing sound, conflict resolution, and accountability. Their Sound and Liberation sessions and technical skill-shares extend across continents, from North America to Europe, building communities where sound becomes a medium of healing and self-realization.
Their internationally recognized “Decolonizing Sound” workshops have influenced students and practitioners at esteemed institutions such as Brown University in the United States and Goldsmiths College in the UK. By blending artistry with pedagogy, Sharmi bridges the gap between performance and practice, offering tools for collective healing.
Sharmi Basu: Community Leadership and Advocacy
Sharmi’s role extends far beyond performance art. They are a certified mediator focused on interpersonal healing, particularly within Queer and Trans BIPOC communities. Their leadership has influenced organizations such as Safer DIY Spaces, Bay Area Girls Rock Camp, Soundwave SF, and California FM.
They also co-founded the Bay Area Black and Brown Punk Festival—an initiative celebrating radical joy, solidarity, and resistance through art and sound. As the Executive Director of Ratskin Records, Sharmi champions decolonial artists, ensuring that marginalized voices have a platform to thrive.
Through all these endeavors, their work consistently provides mutual aid, creative resources, and much-needed spaces of joy and empowerment for queer and trans BIPOC communities.
Recognition and Global Presence
The artistry of Sharmi Basu has resonated across the globe. They have performed at world-renowned venues and festivals such as SFMOMA, YBCA, San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, Ableton Loop, and the Smithsonian. Their work has also been exhibited at SOMArts, Southern Exposure, Counterpulse, and Gray Area.
Currently, they serve as a research resident at The Kitchen in New York and an Emerging Arts Fellow in San Francisco—affirming their place as a visionary voice in contemporary performance and sound art.
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