Tsunami

Space Grant Resident Artist (Spring 2026)

Graciella Ye’Tsunami (they/Tsunami/we/Ocean) is a Black queer fat trans nonbinary creative based in Brooklyn. Tsunami has their MFA in Dance from Temple University. Ocean is a poet & writer, Afro-diasporic historical & spiritual dramaturge, movement & theater maker, singer & sound vocalist, community builder, spiritualist, and death doula in training. Tsunami’s work explores lineage, ritual, devotion, community, Black queer quantum love letters, and creativity on the horizon of revolution.

In addition to Temple University, Tsunami has presented choreographic works through Red Clay Dance Company’s La Femme Dance Festival, Leah Stein’s Studio Works, Philadelphia Fringe’s Scratch Night, BAXEMERGE’s Spring 2024 Cohort Culminating Showcase, and MANCC’s Summer 2024 Cohort Showcase.

Tsunami’s poems “riot” and “dey dem divas” have been published by Killing the Buddha Magazine. Their poem “speaking in tongues” won Brooklyn Poets January 2025 YAWP Competition.

Tsunami was part of Cave Canem’s “Poets As Deep Thinkers” New York Fall 2025 Regional Workshop Series. Through Cave Canem, in collaboration with The Guggenheim Museum, Tsunami was a featured poet for Rashid Johnson’s Rotunda Stage 2025 Series as part of Johnson’s immersive Guggenheim installation A Poem for Deep Thinkers.

Tsunami has lovingly worked with: Anastacia-Renee, Samiya Bashir, George Sanchez, Maleek Rae, Maria RiaGrace Bauman, Jumatatu “Makini” Poe, Lela Aisha Jones, Leah Stein, Awilda Sterling Dupree, Kariamu Welsh, Merian Soto, Baba Stafford C. Berry Jr., Majesty Royale-Jackson, Mawu Ama Ma’at Gora, and Angel Edwards. In addition to BAX, they’re creatively affiliated with The Cell Theater, Cave Canem, Brooklyn Poets, Killing the Buddha Magazine, thINKingDance, and PushBlack.

Photo by Graciella Ye’Tsunami

IG: @yetsunami