Robert Karimi

Robert Karimi is an artist, comedian and cook who makes healthy messaging delicious with his ThePeoplesCook Project. Combining humor and food, he inspires audiences to share their cultural histories, connect with one another over food, and improve their health. As Robert puts it, “What I’m trying to get people to do is exchange wisdom with each other. My art form is part community engagement, part performance and part design.”

As a community engagement specialist and comedic spark, Robert performs in grocery stores, backyards, and on Off Broadway stages. He portrays over 40 characters, including Chicano hipsters, Freddie Mercury, and even his own alter ego—cook Mero Cocinero. Champion Swimmer, Robert’s newest project in collaboration with the Knight Foundation, is a pool-based performance. The piece engages communities on the safety and health issue of the disproportionate number of people of color who cannot swim.

Robert is a National Poetry Slam champion who has received fellowships and awards from Creative Capital, the McColl Center for Art + Innovation, and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.