Tourmaline Biography
Tourmaline is an artist, filmmaker, writer, and activist renowned for her deep engagement with the histories of Black, queer, and trans communities. Her multimedia works challenge mainstream narratives and cultural histories, striving to initiate paradigm shifts and envision a future rich in joy and liberation. Tourmaline’s practice is a call to fundamentally reshape our beliefs about what is possible, drawing from her robust academic background and rich experience in activism.
A graduate of Columbia University with a BA in Comparative Ethnic Studies, Tourmaline’s academic journey was heavily concentrated in African American studies, which has profoundly influenced her work. Her early career as an organizer for Queers for Economic Justice and later, Critical Resistance, helped forge her path as a powerful voice in the fight against the prison-industrial complex and for LGBTQIA+ rights. These experiences also shaped her approach to filmmaking, leading to poignant works that engage with the lives and legacies of notable figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy.
Though she had no formal film training, Tourmaline credits her time as an assistant to Dee Rees on the film Mudbound as a pivotal educational experience that honed her skills in storytelling and visual communication. Her films not only celebrate the spirit of her characters but also challenge viewers to reconsider the past and its impact on contemporary social contexts.
Her profound impact on both art and activism has been recognized widely; she is a TIME 100 honoree, a 2024 Blackstar Film Festival Luminary awardee, and a Guggenheim Fellow.
Tourmaline’s contributions to the arts have been recognized and showcased in prestigious institutions worldwide, including The Studio Museum in Harlem, the Tate Modern, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others. Her works are held in the permanent collections of major museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the Tate, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art.
Currently, Tourmaline’s solo exhibition “Video Room: Tourmaline” is on view at MASP in São Paulo. She is also featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial and has ongoing exhibitions at MASS MoCA and The Metropolitan Museum of Art Afrofuturist period room, where her explorations into Afrofuturism continue to inspire audiences.
Her biography of Marsha P Johnson published by Penguin Random House and Tiny Reparations comes out in spring of 2025.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Tourmaline and other top speakers and celebrities.
Tourmaline Videos
How do I book Tourmaline to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Tourmaline for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Tourmaline, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Tourmaline or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Tourmaline for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Tourmaline, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tourmaline, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Tourmaline speak about?
Tourmaline is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Empowerment, LGBTQ, Social Activism, Television & Film, Social Justice and Government.
Where does Tourmaline travel from?
Tourmaline generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Tourmaline?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Tourmaline for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Tourmaline for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Tourmaline or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Tourmaline is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Diversity & Inclusion, Empowerment and LGBTQ. The estimated speaking fee range to book Tourmaline for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Tourmaline generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Yoruba Richen, Kylar Broadus and Aydian Dowling. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Tourmaline for an upcoming event.
VIDEO
Tourmaline Videos
NEWS
Tourmaline News
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Tourmaline Is on the 2020 TIME 100 List | TIME
Sep 22, 2020 ... Because of Tourmaline, Black trans women exist in a mainstream art institution, where thousands will witness us taking up space, centered in the frame as our own ...
FAQS
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How do I book Tourmaline to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Tourmaline for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Tourmaline, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Tourmaline or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Tourmaline for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Tourmaline, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tourmaline, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Tourmaline speak about?
Tourmaline is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Empowerment, LGBTQ, Social Activism, Television & Film, Social Justice and Government. -
Where does Tourmaline travel from?
Tourmaline generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Tourmaline?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Tourmaline for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Tourmaline for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Tourmaline or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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