Meet Sylvia Thomas, acclaimed LGBTQ+ poet

The inspo: Thomas' journey as a spoken word artist began with open mics and showcases in Indy in 2016.

• By 2018, she was performing at Winter Pride in Copenhagen, Denmark, and returned there in 2021 as one of just two U.S. headliners for World Pride.
• Inspirations for her work include names like Brit Marling, Frank Ocean, Caroline Polachek and Mark Alan Lee.

Zoom in: Last year, Thomas became an artist of the Public Life Residency in Garfield Park with Big Car Collaborative and released her third collection of poetry, VIGIL, at Tube Factory.

• The collection focused on grief, being trans and family.
• When not creating, Thomas is a cinephile who enjoys keeping up with pop culture and traveling.

What she's making now: A new exhibition on the histories and experiences of LGBTQ+ Hoosiers.

• She has an open call for participants for the LGBTQ+ Hoosier History & Arts Project.
• The effort will show how LGBTQ+ Hoosiers have existed and thrived in Indiana for generations.

Check her out: On her website, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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