On a sun-kissed afternoon in San Francisco’s Mission district, we met up with Michelle Zhu at Clarion Alley. As we sat along the stretch of “socially engaged and aesthetically innovative public art” painted by local artists, we chatted about her current projects and plans for the future. Inspired by Maya Angelou’s book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Zhu packed her bags in January and booked a one-way flight to San Francisco. The 15 hour flight from Brisbane, Australia meant there was no turning back. Only four months since her arrival, she has already made waves in her local community as a multi-disciplinary femme artist of color, organizing an art and music showcase, Femme and Them, to benefit TGI Justice Project in support of current and formerly incarcerated trans women. Check out our interview with her below to hear more about her forthcoming cassette from Take Care Tapes.
Follow Michelle Zhu on Instagram @noturlingling.
