This World Is Not My Own

Florida Premiere

Chewing gum sculptures, a wealthy gallerist, a firebrand wrestler, a notorious murder case, and the segregated south – it's all part of Nellie Mae Rowe's boundless universe. Directors Petter Ringbom and Marquise Stillwell vividly bring to life the dynamic story of this extraordinary artist, the daughter of a former slave who made brilliant art in obscurity for her entire life, until she met Jewish gallerist Judith Alexander. By mixing traditional documentary techniques with animations and scripted scenes featuring Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Ringbom and Stillwell immerse the viewer in Rowe’s visual world, an imaginative oasis filled with vibrant drawings, dolls, handmade sculptures, and collected objects. Through innovative storytelling and stunning imagery, This World Is Not My Own celebrates Rowe’s life's work and the contagiously positive impact her work had on contemporary Black life and culture.