Kevin Claiborne is a multidisciplinary conceptual artist whose work examines intersections of identity, social environment, & mental health within the Black American experience. Moving between collage, silkscreen, photography, painting, and sculpture while frequently using language as material, Claiborne is interested in finding new ways to look at history and its connection to the present. Claiborne holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the historically Black college North Carolina Central University (2012), an M.S. in Higher Education from Syracuse University (2016), and an MFA in Visual Arts from Columbia University (2021). Claiborne is currently living and working in Harlem, New York City.

Kevin Claiborne’s work delves into themes of intergenerational trauma, memory, and the psychological dimensions of identity formation within the Black experience. Through his art, Claiborne investigates the gaps in his own family history—exploring the dissonance between "what I know" and "what I should know." This journey leads him to mine the layers of erased, passed-down, and avoided histories to bridge the space between his ancestral origins and his present identity.

A hallmark of Claiborne’s practice is his integration of text and image, where language becomes both material and message. By constructing and deconstructing sentences, he creates new poetic formations that challenge conventional legibility, offering viewers innovative ways to interpret the interplay between words and visuals.

Claiborne's multidisciplinary approach spans collage, photography, silkscreen, painting, and the use of found images from family archives and personal collections. His work, often presented in series, reflects an evolving dialogue between mediums, shifting fluidly as his time and energy dictate. Conceptually, his art contributes to broader discussions about reframing history and asserting narrative ownership, underscoring the vital role of storytelling as a tool for survival and resistance.