Multidisciplinary Artist, Life Coach, and Humor Essayist

Kim Arrington is a dynamic, multidisciplinary artist and life coach with over two decades of experience in the arts. As a Black woman humor essayist, she uses the twin forces of laughter and storytelling to confront and understand the world, revealing the absurdities and injustices that often go unnoticed. Her work is a bridge that connects people from diverse backgrounds, fostering understanding through humor.

Kim's creative journey spans essay writing, podcasting, poetry, music, playwriting, audio documentary production, and teaching artistry. Her unique blend of skills and experiences allows her to weave together stories that resonate with authenticity and depth, exploring themes of race, class, gender constructs, culture, sexuality, and history. With wit, honesty, and resilience, she challenges societal expectations while celebrating the joy and vibrant community that define Black life.

During the Covid pandemic, Kim pivoted to life coaching, a field where she found success and fulfillment. However, she never lost sight of her true passion for creative expression. Now, she’s returning to her artistic roots, blending her coaching expertise with her love for storytelling to help others navigate midlife with humor and grace.

Kim's upcoming book, Brush Your Teeth With Sweet Tea, is set for release in 2026, offering readers a fresh perspective on life through her lens as a Southern Black woman. Her work has been published in Black Arts Quarterly, Southern Quarterly, Drumvoices Revue, and All the Songs We Sing: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Carolina African American Writers’ Collective.

Kim’s commitment to her community is unwavering. She’s passionate about contributing to Durham, North Carolina's creative capital, especially as a comedy essayist, a genre that has few local representatives. With a rich background in arts education, having worked with over 100,000 individuals from pre-K to elders in their 90s, Kim is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of storytellers.

Through her writing, coaching, and community engagement, Kim Arrington continues to inspire change, challenge perceptions, and bring joy to those around her. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, running, and experimenting with new art mediums. Mosaic and quilting are next on her list, though her attempt at throwing pottery on the wheel proved less successful and Brazilian Samba could use some work.