About the Artist
Tyiesha Radford Shorts is a writer, humanities professor, and arts and community advocate in the central Ohio community. Currently, Tyiesha serves as Director of The Giovanni Collective, a writing and performing arts organization of Black women writers. Tyiesha is also a founding board member and the Vice Chair of Zora’s House, a sanctuary for women and gender expansive people of color. As an arts and community advocate, Tyiesha teaches free community learning groups for non-traditional students, a practice that offers formal spaces for the curiosity of the classroom outside of the academy.
A passionate poet and historian, Tyiesha was selected to be the 2025 Community Artist-in-Residence for The Ohio State University’s Urban Arts Space. She has been a featured performer for the Columbus Foundation, Streetlight Guild, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus Metropolitan Library, and ROOTS: An Open Expression on Identity for the Maroon Arts Group.
Tyiesha was a contributing writer for the American Council of Learned Societies 2023 Preparing Community-Engaged Scholars: A Toolkit as well as the collaborative work A Love Letter to This Bridge Called My Back, a collection of literary and visual art works designed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the seminal text This Bridge Called My Back. Her forthcoming article in the Handbook of Critical Arts-Based Research Methods, “Lord Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise: A Return to Black Appalachia through Memory and Poetics,” explores practices of cultural transmission among Black Appalachian communities. She lives in Columbus, Ohio’s historic Bronzeville community with her husband, Marshall, and their dog Ny
Culminating Exhibitions: Don't Sell Grandma's House & I Know Why The Blackbird Sings
September 2–27, 2025, Urban Arts Space
In her titular autobiographical work, Maya Angelou asserts that “the caged bird sings of freedom.” But what song does the bird on free soil sing? I Know Why the Blackbird Sings revisits Ohio’s complicity in the practice of dispossession, kidnapping, and denial of due process through the locational efforts of Ohio’s free people
I Know Why the Blackbird Sings Online Exhibition Archive
Don’t Sell Grandma’s House represents a collaborative approach to recreating sites violently fractured by redlining and dispossession. The process of immersive world-building begs the question, “Where do we gather when our land is gone?” while also thinking about the modified ways that families transmit their histories in intimate and sacred spaces.
Community Projects & Events
June 19, 2025
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Originating in Texas, it has been observed annually on June 19 since 1865. It is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.
The Jubilee Day Festival is a vibrant celebration that brings together a rich tapestry of culture, history and community spirit. This dynamic event will feature a variety of educational and uplifting performances, including thought-provoking reenactments that bring history to life. Enjoy tantalizing food demonstrations that highlight diverse culinary traditions, while live music, dance and captivating film screenings add to the festival’s lively atmosphere. Whether you’re learning something new, indulging in delicious flavors or enjoying the rhythm of dance and music, the Jubilee Day Festival promises an enriching experience for all ages, celebrating both the past and the present in a fun and interactive way.
