Performance Artist . Writer . Producer . Arts Administrator
PRACTICE
Trae Harris is an artistic shapeshifter, born in Baltimore, Maryland, and bred in Brooklyn, New York, whose work fluidly moves across film, performance, poetry, visual art, and esoteric mysticism. Their interdisciplinary practice interrogates the representation of Black lesbian existence on the page and stage, focusing on the intersections of identity, memory, mythology, and migration. At the center of Trae’s contextual practice is a radical curiosity about what it means to exist in these bodies that carry the inherited weight of our foremothers and forefathers while navigating the digital dimension. Channeling their Gullah Geechee and Cuban roots, Trae pays homage to Black and Indigenous ancestral rituals, integrating the secular with the sacred to create immersive worlds where spectator and participant can see themselves reflected in their own cosmic divinity.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts — Performance Studies & Creative Writing
The New School | New York, NY
The New School | New York, NY
PRODUCING, EDITING & WRITING EXPERIENCE
A Seat at The Table: 10th Anniversary Tribute — Editor | 2026
Tribeca Film Festival honors Solange Knowles
NightSong — Producer & Assistant Editor | 2025
Hybrid film installation commissioned by David Kordansky Gallery.Directed by Kya Lou & Derek Fordjour.
City Cinderella Tour: JT of the City Girls — Producer, Editor & Graphic Designer | 2024
National tour for Universal Music Group Artist
Vanishing Point — Writer, Producer | In development
Narrative social thriller exploring identity, surveillance, and digital selfhood.
Down in the Gullah — Creator, Writer, Producer | In development
Southern Gothic television series rooted in Gullah Geechee culture. Supported by the Sundance Institute.
It’s Always Sunni — Co-Writer, Producer, Lead Actor | In development
Directed by Sonia Malfa.
Coming-of-age narrative feature supported by Ruby Artist Grant, Film Independent, and The Gotham.
Detachment Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 — Writer, Producer, Lead Actor | 2013
Directed by Sonia Malfa & Trae Harris
Two-part experimental short film series exploring grief, intimacy, and spiritual rupture.
FILM & TELEVISION (SELECTED PERFORMANCES)
After the Deluge — Short Film | Sharka | Dir. Tara Young | Bushwick Film Festival | 2024
The Vacation — Short Film | Trae | Dir. Jarreau Carrillo | Sundance Jury Award: Directing | 2023
Blocks — Short Film | Tez | Dir. Bridget Moloney | 2020
Hair Wolf — Short Film | Janice | Dir. Mariama Diallo | Sundance U.S. Fiction Jury Award 2018
Bodymore — Short Film | Carrie Cook | Dir. Darren Mallet | 2018
Detachment — Short Film | GypsyBruja | Dir. Sonia Malfa | 2018
195 Lewis — Digital Series | Harlem |Dir. Chanelle Aponte Pearson | 2017
Ori Inu: In Search of Self — Short Film | Camilla Diaz | Dir. Chelsea Odofu | 2016
Orange Is the New Black — Netflix Original Series | Spitty | Dir. Jodie Foster | 2014
Didn’t I Ask for Tea — Short Film | Brandy | Dir. Rahwa Asmerom & Essence Ward | 2014
Newlyweeds — Feature Film | Nina | Dir. Shaka King | Sundance Film Festival World Premiere | 2013
B4 The Night is Thru — Short Film/Music Video | Juliet | Dir. Dr. Woo 2012
Prototype 3010 — Short Film | Poet | Dir. Dr. Woo | 2011
The Wire — HBO Original Series | Middle School Student | Dir. Brad Anderson | 2005
THEATER & LIVE PERFORMANCE
Detachment: A One-Woman Show — Self | Dir. Traeauna Harris | Blue Parallax Studio | 2015Adrienne Kennedy Play Series — Performer | Dir. Zishan Ugurlu | La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club | 2015
And I and Silence — Young Jamie | Caitlin McLeod | Signature Theatre | 2014
Do the Right Thing (Staged Reading) — Narrator/Ella | Dir. Ryan Coogler | Lincoln Center | 2014
Uncle Vanya — Sonya | Dir. Cecelia Rubino | 2014
The Tempest — Ariel | Dir. Cecelia Rubino | 2013
51st Dream State — Poet | Dir. Sekou Sundiata | 2012
The Healing — Ms. Intrinsic | Dir. Dr. Charnell Covert | Bowery Poetry Club | 2012
SPOKEN WORD & MUSEUM PERFORMANCE
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture — Featured Performer | 2018
Bring Your Own Story @ Red Rooster Harlem — Featured Poet | 2017
Museum of Sex: The Stage w/ Jasmine Mans — Featured Poet | 2017
Brooklyn Museum First Saturdays — Featured Poet | 2016
Weeksville Heritage Center — Featured Poet | 2016
Nuyorican Poets Cafe — Featured Poet | 2008
INVITED TALKS, PANELS & PUBLIC PROGRAMS
NeueHouse — Independent Film & Authorship Panelist | 2024Bushwick Film Festival — Post-Screening Panelist | 2024
Maryland Film Festival — Screening & Q&A Panelist | 2023
Rooftop Cinema Club — Post-Screening Panelist | 2019
Yale University — Black Solidarity Conference Panel: Afro-Futurism & Film | Panelist | 2016
School of Visual Arts — Screening & Q&A Panelist | 2017
W Hotel LGBTQ Campaign —Featured Panelist | 2017
Bushwick Film Festival × BRIC FLIX — LGBTQ Spotlight Panelist | 2016
Bushwick Film Festival — Acting in Independent Film Panelist | 2015
Soho House — Post-Screening Panelist | 2014
Eugene Lang College — S.O.A.D Independent Film Conference | Panelist | 2013
PEDAGOGY, ARTS EDUCATION & RADICAL PRACTICE
Production Facilitator — Los Angeles Legacy Project | Los Angeles, California | 2024
Taught fundamentals of tv/news production and scriptwriting to grades 6-12
Co-Director — Reparations Club | 2018-2020
Lead operations for a Black woman-founded and owned bookstore in Los Angeles
Teaching Artist & Department Head — Urban Arts Partnership | New York, NY | 2013–2017
Designed and delivered arts-integrated curricula using hip-hop pedagogy, performance, and critical literacy frameworks.
Teaching Artist & Facilitator — Lyrics on Lockdown / Rikers Island Academy | New York, NY | 2006–2009
Facilitated creative writing, poetry, and performance seminars with incarcerated high school students. Implemented hip-hop pedagogy and culturally responsive literacy practices.
Teaching Artist — I Have a Dream Program | New York, NY | 2006–2008
Taught fundamental acting skills to elementary school students through theater-based, arts-integrated learning.
English Language Facilitator — Children’s Development Village | Cambodia | 2007
Taught foundational English language skills to elementary school students in an international education context.
Mentor — Big Brothers Big Sisters of America | New York, NY | 2006–2008
Mentor — Phenomenal Women Program | New York, NY | 2006–2009
CONFERENCES, SPEAKING & PEDAGOGICAL LINEAGE
Speaker & Presenter — Theatre & Education Conference | New York University | 2008
Southern Black Leadership Conference Presenter — Georgia State University 2007
Speaker & Presenter — Theatre of the Oppressed Conference | Omaha, Nebraska | 2007
Participant & Practitioner — City Theatre of the Oppressed | 2006
PRESS, INTERVIEWS & FEATURES
Books & Published Volumes
Trae Harris — Hindsight Vol II | Self -Published Chapbook | 2020
Cynthia Cervantes & Travis Gumbs — Maroon World, Vol. 2 | Featured model | 2017
Sioux Nesi — Brooklyn Street Style: The No-Rules Guide to Fashion | Featured photographic subject | 2015
Brandon Stanton — Humans of New York, Vol. 1 | Cover subject and featured profile | 2013
Magazines & Editorial Media
Majestic Disorder Magazine — Featured talent and Lifestyle Interview | 2014
New York Times “Buying Black Rebooted”— Featured Co-Director of Reparations Club | 2019
Digital & Video Interviews
StyleLikeU — Closet Interview and “What’s Underneath” for Calvin Klein | 2015
Black Film and TV— Director Shaka King and Trae Harris talk Newlyweeds | 2014
Thisis50.com — Shaka King and Trae Harris present Newlyweeds | 2014
Cinefix — Interview with Amari Cheatom and Trae Harris @ Sundance |2013
Campaigns & Cultural Initiatives
San Diego Black Workers Union Juneteenth Celebration | Graphic Designer |2026
BET — Rock the Vote Campaign | Featured Artist | 2016
StyleLikeU — One Dress Campaign | Featured Model & Dancer | 2011
CREATIVE DIRECTION & WARDROBE STYLING
Calvin Klein “CK One” Campaign — Stylist | 2020
Carol’s Daughter Trans Visibility Video — Costume and Set Design | 2020
Shea Moisture Lifestyle Brand Shoot — Stylist | 2019
The Athlete’s Foot Brand Shoot — Stylist | 2019
AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS & GRANTS
Best Supporting Actress — Tallgrass Film Festival | 2024Sundance Institute — Episodic Intensive Fellow | 2022
Highly competitive national fellowship
Gotham Project Market Fellow | 2023
Selective industry marketplace for narrative features
Film Independent Fast Track | 2023
Invitation-only program supporting independent filmmakers
NALIP Media Accelerator | 2024
Competitive fellowship for diverse media creators
Red Bull Arts Microgrant | 2021
Grit Fund Grant | 2021
Ruby's Artist Grant | 2020
Maryland Arts Council Artist Grant | 2020