Oxy Live! A Conversation with Roxane Gay, hosted by Alexandra Grant

Please note that reserving a ticket does not guarantee a seat. This event is free, and seating is first-come, first-served; please plan to arrive early.

Join us at Occidental College's historic Thorne Hall for the launch of the 2025-26 season of Oxy Live! on September 30th with best-selling author and feminist icon Roxane Gay. The author of Bad Feminist, Hunger, World of Wakanda and much more will engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Oxy Live's new host, celebrated visual artist and cultural collaborator Alexandra Grant.

Presented by Occidental College and OXY ARTS, this series of conversations provides immersive, revelatory experiences that go beyond the classroom, fostering an environment of innovation and creativity.

Each speaker will bring to the conversation their unique perspective and expertise, making for events that are intellectually stimulating and emotionally moving. 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.

Curated by OXY ARTS, the College’s community-based arts hub. 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.

About Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay’s writing appears in Best American Mystery Stories 2014, Best American Short Stories 2012, Best Sex Writing 2012, A Public Space, McSweeney’s, Tin House, Oxford American, American Short Fiction, Virginia Quarterly Review, and many others. She is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. She is the author of the books Ayiti, An Untamed State, the New York Times bestselling Bad Feminist, the nationally bestselling Difficult Women and the New York Times bestselling Hunger. She is also the author of World of Wakanda for Marvel. She has several books forthcoming and is at work on television and film projects. She also has a newsletter, The Audacity and once had a podcast, The Roxane Gay Agenda.

About Alexandra Grant

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!

Event Venue

Thorne Hall, Thorne Road, Los Angeles, United States