The Gist

River Coello is a Guayaquil-born cultural weaver based in Orlando. As a healing artist-scholar, their decolonial practice integrates research and facilitation, writing and translation, and performance and visual media. They are proudly Andean, kariwarmi, kuir, and disabled.

The Work

River is currently working on a new multimedia and multilingual project exploring complementary dualism through an Andean lens, titled YANANTIN, with support from South Arts. They are also a Trustees Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Central Florida. They plan on conducting long-term ethnographic research on community care and holistic wellness within LGBT+ chosen kinship networks in Ecuador.

River’s previous major project, HAMPI, explored their early reconnection to the Andean cosmovision. The book (For the Birds Trapped in Airports, 2024-2026) received a Florida Book Award, an International Latino Book Award, an Independent Publisher Book Award, and a Nautilus Book Award. Reimagined as an immersive experience, HAMPI will be exhibited in Seattle at Jack Straw Cultural Center and in Orlando at the LGBT+ Center thanks to United Arts of Central Florida. River’s previous chapbook-length collections, faith/fe (2021) and self/ser (2019), were published by Homie House Press.

River was an Orlando Poet Laureate finalist and received an International WCS Award in media and creative influence. They have also received support from the Poetry Foundation, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Lambda Literary, the Canada Council for the Arts, New Leaders Council, Education Pioneers, the Helmsley Charitable Trust, among others. Their work has been featured on major platforms, ranging from academic conferences and university keynotes to curated anthologies and serial publications, international literary festivals, and organizational leadership summits across North America and Europe.

The Core

River fiercely believes in ease, in rest as liberation, and in communities that honor and move though friction. When not working, they are likely to be found frolicking Pachamama or enjoying a good meal with their partner, Sam, their dog, Teddy, and other loved ones.