American Artist

Visionary works exploring legendary science-fiction writer Octavia Butler's enduring influence on literature and culture

The richly illustrated Shaper of God is a compelling exploration of the legacy of science-fiction writer Octavia E. Butler (1947-2006), reimagined through the visionary lens of American Artist (born 1989) is the legal name of this contemporary artist, working primarily in sculpture, software programming and film on pieces that explore technology, race and knowledge production. Artist is a former co-director of the School for Poetic Computation and on faculty at Yale University.American Artist's multidisciplinary approach delves into three pivotal themes of Butler's oeuvre: the profound impact of her family's migration; the role of Pasadena and Los Angeles, with their distinct academic, scientific and natural landscapes; and her critical engagement with space exploration, interrogating its implications for Black and Indigenous communities. This book features American Artist's video, installation, sculpture and drawing, alongside essays, exhibition documentation and a compilation of diverse mediums, including sketches, digital communications and archival materials, inviting readers to reconsider history, technology and identity. This volume is an essential resource for understanding both Butler's groundbreaking narratives and the contemporary issues they continue to shape.    

Tananarive Due is an American author who won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel and the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel for her novel The Reformatory (2023). She teaches at UCLA.

Ayana Jamieson is a professor at Cal Poly Pomona and founder of the Octavia E. Butler Legacy Network.

Fred Moten is a professor at New York University and professor emeritus at University of California, Riverside; he previously taught at Duke University and the University of Iowa.

Taylor Renee Aldridge is a curator at the California African American Museum.

Lou Cornum is a professor at New York University.

• Publisher: Pioneer Works Press
  
• Publish Date: July 15, 2025
  
• Pages: 294
  
• Language: English
  
• Type: Paperback 
  
• EAN/UPC: 9781945711220
  
• Dimensions: 8.0 X 5.5 X 1.0 inches | 1.6 pounds
  
• BISAC Categories: Arts & Hobbies