Oxy Live! Presents: A Conversation with Taylor Mac

October 25, 2025 | 7:00pm TO 8:30pm

Location: Thorne Hall

Conversation

Thorne Hall, Occidental College

Join us for an evening of conversation between Pulitzer Prize-finalist playwright, MacArthur "Genius" Fellow, and groundbreaking performance artist Taylor Mac and visual artist and cultural collaborator Alexandra Grant.

NOTE: This event is part of a two-night series. On Friday, October 24, Taylor Mac will join Obie Award-winning composer, pianist, and longtime collaborator Matt Ray for a one-night-only concert. Reserve your October 24 concert ticket here.

Oxy Live! is a series of conversations with a wide-ranging lineup of cultural luminaries at the forefront of their fields, joined for thought-provoking discussions hosted by Alexandra Grant. All conversations are open to the public at no cost, creating a space for diverse communities to join in the conversation and explore ideas together.

This event is funded through the generous support of Occidental trustee and alumna, Lisa Coscino ’85; the Occidental Class of '74; and the Antoinette and Vincent M. Dungan Lectureship Fund.

Taylor Mac is a Pulitzer Prize–finalist playwright, MacArthur “Genius” Fellow and groundbreaking performance artist whose work defies categorization. Known for blending theater, music, drag and spectacle, Mac invites audiences in transformative experiences through genre-expanding works staged at leading venues from Lincoln Center to the Sydney Opera House.

Alexandra Grant is a celebrated Los Angeles and Berlin based visual artist whose work explores text, language, literature, and philosophy. She has exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide and collaborated with artists across disciplines. Her practice extends beyond the studio as a cultural collaborator who supports and elevates the work of creatives and organizations across many communities. Grant is a staunch advocate of artists and particularly dedicated to supporting women and emerging artists. She is recognized for creating thoughtful spaces of dialogue and exchange, supporting innovative projects, and engaging audiences in conversations around creativity and cultural expression. In 2017 Grant co-founded the independent publisher X Artists’ Books to publish thoughtful, high-quality, artist-centered books; in 2008, she created the grantLOVE Project to raise awareness and funds for various arts nonprofits, and this year launched “LOVE Wine” with J Vineyards to empower women and creativity in the wine industry and the art world. A trailblazer and champion of the arts, Grant brings her passion, love of conversation, and open heart to Oxy Live!