Profile
Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, known as crazinisT artisT, is a multidisciplinary artivist, curator, mentor, and philanthropist from Ghana. Raised in a deeply religious community, she initially trained as a teacher and served in Ghana Education Service until 2010 and simultaneously as a pastor in several local churches. At 29, she embarked on a transformative journey, leaving her roles to study art at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she earned degrees in painting and sculpture. Despite her formal training in painting and sculpture, crazinisT artisT predominantly developed her practice in the realm of performance.
As a transwoman in a country where the LGBTQIA+ community faces significant challenges, crazinisT artisT uses her body in performances to confront issues like gender stereotypes, social justice, disenfranchisement, and violence. Her work often incorporates powerful symbolism, including chains, mud, and nudity. She has performed globally and participated in artist residencies, including PROGR in Switzerland (2022) and Camargo Foundation in France (2019). In 2018, she launched the perfocraZe International Artists Residency (pIAR) in Kumasi, Ghana, fostering collaboration and creating a safe, accessible space for the LGBTQIA+ community.
