Sariyah Niko Benoit (She/Her), also known as Riyah Niko, is a painter, printmaker, gardener, and educator from The Bronx, New York currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her surrealist goals are to deconstruct her audience’s attitudes about longevity, individuality and community, and sustainable wellbeing, and reconfigure their parts as joy and community power. Riyah’s pieces evoke laughter and present absurdity.
EDUCATION
Emory College of Arts & Science — BA in African American Studies, History
RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIP
2023-2024
REMERGE Artist studio residency. Sweet Auburn, Atlanta, GA
2023
Gist Yarn WEAVE residency under High Hog Farm & Black sheep fiber circle. Remote.
2021
Indigo and Botanical Dye Residency. SOLO, Sapelo Island, GA.
2020
The Create Change Fellowship. The Laundromat Project, New York, New York.
SOLO EXHIBITION HISTORY
Aug.-Oct. 2023
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, “Breaking Seed Dormancy” Atlanta, GA.
GROUP EXHIBITION HISTORY
2023
The Gathering Spot, “Art & Jazz Gala” Atlanta, GA.
2022
Hidden Gallery 333, “Rebirth” Atlanta, GA.
Black Coffee ATL ,”Stacey Abrams, Pass The Mic to Women” Atlanta, GA.
The WXLLXM, “The Art of Metanoia” Atlanta, GA.
Ambient + Studio, “So Surreal Art” Atlanta, GA.
2021
Hidden Gallery 333, “The Awakening” Atlanta, GA.
swm.nyc, “SWM” Brooklyn, NY.
2020
FIT State University of New York, “Black in Time” New York, NY.
2019
Gotham Hall, “CFK Gala,” New York, NY.
H-Loft, “Ratchet Opulence” New York, NY.
Gallery House (Pratt Institute), “Remember Us” Brooklyn, NY.
The Capitale, “The Regal Ball,” New York, NY.
Davidson College, “R.O.O.T.S.” Davidson, NC.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Felton, Ariel. “How Two Activists From Atlanta Are Helping Preserve the Traditions of a Remote Georgia Island.” Vogue (Mural photos). Digital, February 28, 2023.
“Mankaprr Conteh” Rolling Stone (Headshot). Digital, June 10, 2022.
“Check Out Riyah Niko’s Story” VoyageATL (Interview). Digital, October 26, 2022.
“Meet Sariyah Benoit | painter, muralist, film photographer, visual art enthusiast” Shoutout Atlanta (Interview). Digital, July 20, 2021.
“2020 Create Change Fellow | 2021 Creative Action Fund Awardee” Laundromat Project. Digital. 2021.
“Pedagogy and Purpose” Laundromat Project. Digital, July 9, 2020.
“THE LAUNDROMAT PROJECT SELECTS…” ARTFORUM. Digital, January 27, 2020.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022 Visual Art, Fiber Art, and Gardening Summer Program Manager. East Point Housing Authority & Black Art in America Foundation. Atlanta, GA.
2020 Art Instructor. Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School. New York, NY.
2019-2020 Facilitator. The People’s Studio @ Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). New York, NY.
2019 Curator. “Ratchet Opulence Art Showcase” Fundraiser and Community Gathering. H-Loft. Harlem, NY.
2018 Educational Programs Intern. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. Charlotte, NC.
AWARDS
2021 Creative Action Fund Awardee. Laundromat Project.
COLLECTIONS
Sketching Sapelo (3 x 12in canvas). Yes, Please Bookstore and Lending Library. Scottdale, GA. 2022.
Repatriate (33 x 36in canvas). Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice. Durham, NC. 2020.
MURAL COMMISIONS
The Crib Creative (8ft x 40ft). The Met. Atlanta, GA. 2023.
3 sisters, 3 generations Mural (12ft x 9ft). National Black Food and Justice Alliance Office. Atlanta, GA. 2022.
East Point People Mural (5.5 x 30ft concrete). Oz Pizza and East Point MARTA Station. East Point, GA. 2022.
Grand Opening Mural. Dog House Boxing and Fitness Gym. Woodstock, GA. 2021.
Spirit of Sapelo Mural (7 x 15ft). Sapelo Go Country Store. Sapelo Island, GA. 2021.
Affirmations Mural. The Chill Spud restaurant. Atlanta, GA. 2021.
Motivation 2 Mural. The Chill Spud restaurant. Atlanta, GA. 2021
Motivation 1 Mural. Tru Skills Barber Shop. Atlanta, GA. 2020
Kickback Cacti Murals. P.S. 142. New York, NY. 2020.
Love Learning Murals. P.S. 314x. Bronx, NY. 2020.
School Murals Project. Thaddeus Stevens P.S. 81. Brooklyn, NY. 2020.
Zora Neale Hurston Mural. Brighter Choice Community School. Brooklyn, NY. 2019.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
SAAFON, since 2022
The Laundromat Project, since 2020