Justina Grayman

Justina Kamiel Grayman, PhD is an artist who builds communities that are deeply connected, powerful, and mobilized to take transformational action – and a psychology PhD who studies how to do so. With a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and a PhD in Psychology and Social Intervention from New York University, Justina’s studies have always centered on understanding how we communicate with others in ways that build power, connects, and mobilizes. In line with these tenets, Justina’s early efforts at doing this included founding a magazine-creation program for middle schoolers and creating an action-research project where she collaborated with community organizers to reflect on their event invitation strategies.

Realizing art and movement are communication tools to build power, connect, and mobilize, her original artworks are efforts to mobilize people. Justina’s dance films Woman Versus (2016) and Black Man in America (2018), both of which were recognized by American Dance Festival’s Movies by Movers, explored the mobilization of women and Black men, respectively. Justina began dancing in college and her professional dance experience includes being a company member in STREB Extreme Action Company (2014-16) and dancing with Kristin Sudeikis Dance (2015-present).

Justina is currently leading two movement-based programs, a series of celebrations of Black men and a movement class, Raw Movement, that connects people through their moving stories. Justina is a 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in Choreography & Gregory Millard Fellow, and is an Artist in Residence at University Settlement Performance Project (2019-20).

Justina teaches psychology courses at Walden University and Manhattan School of Music, and previously taught at New York University.