Miki Vale
Biography
Miki Vale is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans Hip Hop, theatre, sound design, performance, writing, and arts education. Her creative practice uses music, storytelling, rhythm, and performance to explore identity, culture, healing, justice, and belonging. Her work has been commissioned and supported by arts organizations including The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Diversionary Theatre, and New Village Arts.
Vale is the founder of SoulKiss Theater, an arts education and cultural organization created to center Black queer womxn. Her SoulKiss work grew from a cultural series she began curating in San Diego in 2007, creating spaces for queer Black womxn to gather, perform, create, and build community. SoulKiss Theater was established in 2020.
As a playwright and performer, Vale created in lieu of flwrz, a Hip Hop musical centered on a love story between two Black women, along with the companion book in lieu of flwrz: a memoir . . . kind of. Her creative work has been presented through organizations and festivals including La Jolla Playhouse's WOW Festival and New Village Arts. She has also worked internationally as a cultural arts ambassador, educator, and performer.
BQW Impact
Miki Vale has made Black lesbian and queer womxn central to her artistic and community-building practice. Through SoulKiss and its related cultural programming, she has created spaces where queer Black womxn can gather, create, perform, and see their experiences centered within San Diego's cultural landscape.
Her multidisciplinary practice expands representation of Black queer women across Hip Hop, theatre, writing, sound, performance, and arts education. Works such as in lieu of flwrz center Black women's relationships and experiences, while SoulKiss Theater provides ongoing creative and community infrastructure for queer Black womxn.
Notable Works
in lieu of flwrz: a memoir . . . kind of
Companion book to Vale's Hip Hop musical, combining personal storytelling, rhyme, rhythm, recipes, plays, song lyrics, memorabilia, Hip Hop, theatre, and history.
in lieu of flwrz: a hip hop musical
Multidisciplinary work tracing the rise and collapse of a love story between two Black women through movement, dance, Hip Hop, and original music.
SoulKiss (2007 - 2015) - Cultural Series
Cultural series rooted in Vale's work creating spaces for queer Black womxn in San Diego.
SoulKiss Theater (2020 - present) - Arts Organization
Arts education and community organization founded by Vale to center Black queer womxn through storytelling, performance, and creative development.
BlaQSpace: Black Queer Womxn Claiming Space
Collaborative creative project exploring how Black queer women claim space in their communities, bodies, and society.
Learn More
Vale's professional hub featuring her music, theatre, writing, sound design, education, cultural ambassador work, and projects.
Official home of the organization founded by Vale to center Black queer womxn.
Official project page for the Hip Hop musical and companion memoir.
Vale's creative project focused on Black queer womxn claiming space.
Major San Diego theatre institution connected to Vale's commissioned playwriting work.