# Olivia McKayla Ross > Caribbean-American artist **Wikidata**: [Q114379801](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114379801) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/olivia-mckayla-ross ## Summary Olivia McKayla Ross is a Caribbean-American artist, programmer, and poet based in New York City. Born in 2002, she operates at the intersection of technology and creative expression, working as a software engineer and digital artist. She is recognized for her involvement in projects exploring surveillance, social media, and digital culture. ## Biography - **Born:** 2002, New York City - **Nationality:** United States - **Education:** Parsons School of Design - **Known for:** Working at the intersection of art, software engineering, and poetry; exploring themes of surveillance and digital identity. - **Employer(s):** Not specified in source material. - **Field(s):** Art, Software Engineering, Poetry ## Contributions Olivia McKayla Ross contributes to the fields of digital art and software development by integrating technical engineering skills with artistic and poetic practice. As a programmer and software engineer, she engages with the creation of computer software while simultaneously critiquing and exploring the cultural implications of these technologies. Her work addresses complex modern themes, specifically the relationship between social media, spirituality, and surveillance technologies. She has been associated with discussions regarding "digital doulas" and the concept of fixing "data trauma," indicating a focus on the human and emotional impact of data systems. Ross maintains a digital portfolio at `olivias.website`, which serves as a repository for her multidisciplinary work. Her presence at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in relation to the project "Seeking Mavis Beacon" highlights her engagement with the representation of digital history and identity in media. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Olivia McKayla Ross's background? Olivia McKayla Ross is a Caribbean-American artist and programmer. She was born in New York City in 2002 and attends the Parsons School of Design. ### Q: What fields does Olivia McKayla Ross work in? She works across multiple disciplines, identifying as an artist, a software engineer (practitioner of software engineering), a programmer, and a poet. ### Q: What themes does her work explore? Her work explores the intersections of technology and humanity, specifically focusing on social media, surveillance technologies, spirituality, and data trauma. ## Why They Matter Olivia McKayla Ross represents a generation of "artist-technologists" who are not merely users of software but critical creators within the digital space. By combining the rigorous logic of software engineering with the expressive capabilities of poetry and art, she challenges the traditional separation between STEM and the humanities. Her focus on "surveillance technologies" and "data trauma" places her at the forefront of critical discussions regarding privacy and the psychological impact of the digital age. Furthermore, her inclusion in the Black Lunch Table project underscores her importance in documenting and expanding the visibility of Black artists and cultural workers. Her association with the "Seeking Mavis Beacon" project at Sundance 2024 suggests a significant role in interrogating the history of digital representation, ensuring that the narratives of marginalized groups in tech history are preserved and examined. ## Notable For * **Multidisciplinary Practice:** Integrating software engineering, poetry, and visual art. * **Critical Digital Studies:** Investigating the impact of surveillance and social media on society. * **Representation:** Being featured in the Black Lunch Table project, which focuses on the lives and work of Black artists. * **Early Career Achievement:** Attending Parsons School of Design and participating in major cultural events like the Sundance Film Festival at a young age (born 2002). ## Body ### Early Life and Education Olivia McKayla Ross was born in 2002 in New York City, where she is a citizen of the United States. She pursued higher education at the Parsons School of Design, a division of The New School known for art and design education. ### Professional Identity Ross maintains a professional identity that spans several distinct but overlapping domains. She is classified as a **programmer** and **software engineer**, defined by her practice of writing computer software and engaging in software engineering. Concurrently, she operates as an **artist** and **poet**, utilizing these mediums to express themes related to her technical background. Her personal website, `olivias.website`, functions as the central hub for her professional portfolio. ### Artistic and Research Focus Ross's work is deeply concerned with the societal implications of modern technology. Specific areas of focus include: * **Surveillance and Spirituality:** She explores the complex dynamic between social media platforms, spiritual practices, and the mechanisms of surveillance technologies. * **Data Trauma:** Through her engagement with the concept of "digital doulas," she addresses the concept of "data trauma," looking at how digital systems can be healed or mediated. * **Digital Representation:** Her public appearances, such as the 2024 Sundance Film Festival for "Seeking Mavis Beacon," indicate a commitment to exploring the cultural history of digital figures and representation. ### Recognition Ross is listed on the "Black Lunch Table" focus list, a project dedicated to creating a comprehensive history of Black art and artists. This inclusion highlights her relevance in the contemporary art landscape as a figure bridging technology and culture. ## References 1. [Source](https://piecesofme.online/olivia_mckayla_ross) 2. [Source](http://artandcode.com/homemade/olivia-mckayla-ross/) 3. [Source](https://www.studioananda.space/2021/09/02/social-media-the-spirit-and-surveillance-technologies-with-olivia-mckayla-ross/) 4. [Source](https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/digital-doulas-fixing-data-trauma) 5. [Source](https://olivias.website/)