Rainbow Serpent Inc

What Rainbow Serpent Inc does

Rainbow Serpent Inc is a Pittsburgh-headquartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that creates multimedia art, immersive programs, and healing retreats advancing Black LGBTQ culture through African cosmologies. Its portfolio spans the Infinite Essence ultraviolet-light photography series, the Obi Mbu (The Primordial House) experimental dance film, the Myth-Science of the Gatekeepers glass sculpture series, the Blackstar Sanctuary VR experience, live performances, and music projects. Technically, the work relies on a proprietary UV photography method (custom camera flash transmitting only ultraviolet light, paired with fluorescent body paint on Black models photographed in total darkness) printed on aluminum substrates, alongside extended reality / VR production, glass craft at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and multimedia installation. Co-founders Mikael Owunna (Nigerian-American engineer and multimedia artist) and Dr. Marques Redd (African cosmologist and scholar) lead the creative and executive direction.

The organization's revenue model combines four streams: (1) individual donations processed via Zeffy, (2) merchandise and unit-priced prints sold through its own BigCommerce e-commerce storefront at shop.therainbowserpent.org, (3) limited edition signed-and-numbered archival prints, films on USB, and sculptures acquired by major museums and private collectors, and (4) fee-based workshops and multi-day healing retreats held at venues including The Esalen Institute. Distribution runs through direct museum/gallery exhibition partnerships (Fotografiska, Museum of the African Diaspora, MoMA, North Carolina Museum of Art, Carnegie Mellon's Miller ICA), institutional partners (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, MIT Media Lab), film festival circuits, and K-12 school programs reaching over 20,000 students.

Rainbow Serpent is governed by a board of directors including Dr. Hasani Baharanyi (President), Derrick Wortes (Vice-President), Dr. Weslee Glenn (Treasurer), and Anthony Emeka Ford (Secretary). The organization operates without disclosed parent ownership or venture capital backing, relying on donations, grants (e.g., the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh program), merchandise, and art sales. It has exhibited and screened work in 15+ cities across the USA, Sweden, Estonia, and China, and its art has been collected by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Nasher Museum of Art, and the Equal Justice Initiative.

Name

Rainbow Serpent Inc

Legal name

Rainbow Serpent

Website

https://therainbowserpent.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rainbow Serpent is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that produces multimedia art, immersive XR/film installations, and healing retreats grounded in African cosmologies to advance Black LGBTQ culture and showcase over 25 artists in major museums and institutions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Programming

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)

Keywords

• Multimedia arts production
• Black LGBTQ cultural programming
• Healing retreats workshops
• African cosmological art
• Limited edition art sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Rainbow Serpent relies on donations from individuals to advance its mission of advancing Black LGBTQ culture through art and African cosmologies. Donations are processed through the Zeffy platform.
2. Merchandise and Art Sales: Rainbow Serpent operates an e-commerce store selling limited edition prints, framed prints, greeting cards, hoodies, sweatshirts, magnets, mugs, notebooks, puzzles, and tote bags featuring artwork from various projects including Infinite Essence, Blackstar Sanctuary, The Four World Ages, and Myth-Science of the Gatekeepers.
3. Limited Edition Art Sales: Archival prints, films, and sculptures signed and numbered by artists are sold as limited editions. These are acquired by major museums, private collections, and institutions. USB box sets of Obi Mbu (The Primordial House) are also available. Artwork has been acquired by institutions including Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Nasher Museum of Art, and Equal Justice Initiative.
4. Workshop and Retreat Fees: Rainbow Serpent offers educational workshops and healing retreats at venues including The Esalen Institute. Participants pay fees to attend immersive art, scholarship, and healing programs combining African cosmologies, modern creativity, and spiritual practices.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Rainbow Serpent is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization that creates multimedia art — including photography, film, extended reality, sculpture, installation, live performance, and music — alongside healing retreats, workshops, and curatorial programs. All works are anchored in African cosmologies and advance Black LGBTQ culture through exhibitions, an e-commerce store for limited edition prints and merchandise, and ticketed immersive retreats (notably at the Esalen Institute).

Product overview

Rainbow Serpent is a non-profit arts organization that operates as a multi-disciplinary creative studio, offering a portfolio of artistic products and services centered on advancing Black LGBTQ culture through African cosmologies and multimedia art. The portfolio includes major artistic projects such as the Infinite Essence photography series (UV light photography printed on aluminum), the Obi Mbu experimental dance film, the Myth-Science of the Gatekeepers glass sculpture series, the Blackstar Sanctuary VR/extended reality experience, and live performances including The Four World Ages. The organization maintains an e-commerce store for limited edition prints and merchandise, offers educational programming through healing retreats and workshops (particularly at Esalen Institute), and provides curatorial services showcasing Black and LGBTQ artists. The products range from fine art limited editions and publications to immersive technology-driven experiences and community-focused wellness programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Infinite Essence Photography series by Mikael Owunna featuring Black models painted with fluorescent materials and photographed under ultraviolet light in total darkness, printed on aluminum sheets, creating images where bodies appear as the starry universe. Aimed at museums, galleries, private collectors, and the public interested in Black LGBTQ representation, African cosmologies, and contemporary fine art photography.
• Obi Mbu (The Primordial House) A 30-minute experimental dance film presenting a Nigerian-Igbo creation myth centered in the Primordial House located in the Sirius star system, featuring illuminated Black dancers reenacting an Igbo myth of creation. Distributed via limited-edition USB box set direct-to-consumer and via film festival screenings.
• Myth-Science of the Gatekeepers A series of 16 glass sculptures depicting queer African deities, created by Marques Redd at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Aimed at museums, galleries, and private collectors of contemporary sculpture with African cosmological themes.
• Blackstar Sanctuary A virtual reality / extended reality film exploring an ancient Egyptian temple set in the Sirius star system, part of Rainbow Serpent's extended reality portfolio. Aimed at XR film audiences and festival programmers.
• Playing the Cosmic Strings A 1,200 sq ft billboard public art commission created with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, installed at Heinz Hall in October 2021 and remaining on display for five years.
• The Four World Ages A live performance project exploring themes related to African cosmologies and creation mythology. Aimed at arts festival, concert, and cultural venue audiences.
• Knowing the Evolutions of Ra An original music project within the Rainbow Serpent artistic portfolio exploring African cosmological themes. Aimed at listeners and cultural programming audiences.
• Rainbow Serpent Online Store An own-brand BigCommerce e-commerce storefront at shop.therainbowserpent.org selling archival prints, fine art prints, framed prints, calendars, greeting cards, hoodies, sweatshirts, magnets, mugs, notebooks, puzzles, and tote bags featuring Rainbow Serpent artwork. Free U.S. shipping; non-profit tax-exempt ordering available.
• Healing Retreats and Workshops Ticketed, fee-based immersive healing retreats and workshops rooted in African cosmologies, including multi-day retreats at the Esalen Institute (Big Sur, CA) such as Harnessing the Power of Creation through African Ritual and Altered States: African Ritual and Sacred Art. Aimed at individual adult learners, spiritual seekers, and art practitioners.
• Curatorial Services Curatorial programming presenting the work of more than 25 artists in major venues (museums, galleries, festivals) to build opportunities for emerging Black and LGBTQ artists, delivered in partnership with hosting institutions.
• Limitless Africans Photography monograph by Mikael Owunna, published by FotoEvidence in 2019, exploring precolonial African sexuality. Sold as a published book via retail and book channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 students reached through virtual education programs in 100 high schools
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2022Rainbow Serpent co-founders Marques Redd and Mikael Owunna co-hosted the Origin Stories concert performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on January 27, 2022. The program featured musical performances inspired by creation stories from Igbo, Jewish, Greek, Mayan, Afro-Cuban, and Korean traditions. Approximately 1,500 people attended. A virtual education unit Schooltime: Origin Stories was also produced for over 20,000 students in 100 high schools.
• Museum of the African DiasporacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco is hosting UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe from October 2025 to August 2026. Curated by Key Jo Lee, the exhibition features artists including Lorna Simpson, Rashaad Newsome, Didier William, and Mikael Owunna, exploring intersections of Blackness and the cosmos.
• FotografiskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFotografiska is hosting the SPACE exhibition featuring Mikael Owunna and Marques Redd across multiple locations. The exhibition traveled from Stockholm to Tallinn to Shanghai, exploring the celestial frontier where artistic expression and scientific inquiry meet. The Shanghai iteration titled SPACE: Internal Illuminations runs November 12, 2025 to March 8, 2026.
• The Esalen InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRainbow Serpent has partnered with The Esalen Institute for multiple retreats including Harnessing the Power of Creation through African Ritual (October 2022, May 2023) and Altered States: African Ritual and Sacred Art (September 2024). These multi-day immersive retreats blend African cosmology, ritual, and art at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA.
• Pittsburgh Glass CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pittsburgh Glass Center hosted the Myth-Science of the Gatekeepers exhibition in May 2024, featuring 16 glass sculptures of queer African deities created by Marques Redd. This was the premiere venue for this major sculptural work.
• Silver Eye Center for PhotographycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRainbow Serpent partnered with Silver Eye Center for Photography in Pittsburgh to present FIERCE: Pittsburgh exhibition from March 5 to May 2, 2026. The exhibition features photography by Ajamu X celebrating Pittsburgh's Black queer culture, created during his April 2025 Rainbow Serpent artist residency.
• Pittsburgh Downtown PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Rainbow Serpent on the Playing the Cosmic Strings billboard commission in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The 1,200 sq ft billboard was unveiled in October 2021 at Heinz Hall and will remain on display for five years.
• North Carolina Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe North Carolina Museum of Art hosted the Reconstructing the Primordial House installation and Obi Mbu film screenings from October 7, 2022 to December 31, 2024, bringing Rainbow Serpent's work to a major museum audience.
• Kelly Strayhorn TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh hosted the Obi Mbu film screening on February 25, 2022, supporting Rainbow Serpent's local community programming.
• ClampArt GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClampArt Gallery in New York City hosted the Cosmologies exhibition from September 17 to October 30, 2021, featuring Mikael Owunna's Infinite Essence photography series and the premiere of Obi Mbu (The Primordial House) film.
• Iris Project GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIris Project Gallery in Los Angeles hosted the Reconstructing the Primordial House installation from November 6 to December 19, 2021, featuring Rainbow Serpent's multimedia work alongside the Obi Mbu film.
• Contemporary Art Museum RaleighcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContemporary Art Museum Raleigh (CAM Raleigh) hosted Obi Mbu (The Primordial House) film screenings on November 14 and 18, 2021, as part of Rainbow Serpent's growing exhibition portfolio.
• MIT Media LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT Media Lab hosted Space and the Arts panel as part of Beyond the Cradle: Earth + Space conference on March 15, 2023, featuring Marques Redd and Mikael Owunna as panelists.
• The Chautauqua InstitutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chautauqua Institution hosted the All That Glitters exhibition from June 26 to August 7, 2022, featuring photographic works from Mikael Owunna's Infinite Essence series and the Obi Mbu film.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Studio Museum in Harlem: Iconic NYC non-profit museum dedicated to Black contemporary art with an artist-in-residence program and educational outreach. Closely comparable non-profit model advancing Black artists through exhibition, residencies, and public programming at a similar niche-institutional scale.
• Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD): San Francisco non-profit museum exclusively dedicated to Black diaspora art and culture. Directly hosts Rainbow Serpent's UNBOUND exhibition (Oct 2025–Aug 2026) and shares the core mission of Black artistic representation.
• Visual AIDS: NYC-based non-profit using art to fight AIDS and support LGBTQ+ and HIV+ artists. Comparable non-profit arts organization built around an LGBTQ+ artistic mission with educational and exhibition programming.
• The Laundromat Project: NYC non-profit that brings arts programming and creative placemaking to underserved communities. Comparable non-profit community-arts model with residency-style programming, donor funding, and a focus on racial/identity equity.
• House of GG: Black trans-led arts and resource organization in New Orleans offering artist residencies, programming, and community support. Comparable Black LGBTQ+ arts-focused non-profit with artist-development and community-healing programs.
• Creative Time: NYC non-profit public art organization commissioning socially engaged art in public spaces. Comparable non-profit model producing large-scale, identity-driven immersive arts projects and partnering with cultural institutions.
• Marsha P. Johnson Institute: Black trans-led non-profit protecting and defending the human rights of Black transgender people through arts, advocacy, and coalition-building. Comparable Black LGBTQ+ non-profit mission with similar reliance on donations and identity-rooted programming.
• The LGBT Community Center of New York: NYC's LGBTQ+ community center offering arts, cultural, wellness, and educational programming. Comparable non-profit organizational model delivering identity-rooted programming at larger scale with similar donor-and-grant funding base.

Broad incumbents

• Fotografiska: International museum of photography with locations in Stockholm, Tallinn, Shanghai, and NYC; hosts Rainbow Serpent's SPACE exhibition across venues. Operates at significantly larger scale and serves a global photography audience.

Regional players

• Kelly Strayhorn Theater: Pittsburgh-based performing and visual arts presenter hosting Rainbow Serpent film screenings. Comparable regional non-profit arts venue and programming partner serving local diverse communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEHmtjrwsaUbSR82nkV4_AA
• Facebookfacebook.com/rainbowserpentinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rainbowserpent
• Instagraminstagram.com/rainbowserpentinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rainbow Serpent Inc