2 Gyrlz Performative Arts is an artist-run presenting group, based in Manchester, England (previously, an American 501(c)3 non-profit in Portland, Oregon). Founded in 2000, the group has presented hundreds of performers, artists, musicians, writers, and filmmakers at events including the Enteractive Language Festival, Perpetuating Response, and the Identity Fuxus Forum.
Participating artists have included Guillermo Gómez-Peña, osseus labyrint, Savage Republic, Kaosmosis, Societas Insomnia, Kate Bornstein, Patrick Califia, Soriah, and Jean-Louis Costes. 2 Gyrlz also publishes 2GQ (2 Gyrlz Quarterly).
Co-founded by Lisa Newman and Llewyn Maire McCobb, who are also known for their performance work individually and in the gyrl grip, 2 Gyrlz continues the tradition of Two Girls, a Eugene, Oregon-based phenomenon formed by Lidia Yuknavitch and Devin Crowe in the 1990s. Active members have included Tiffany Lee Brown, George Johnson, Noah Mickens, Gregorio Acuna, and Joshua Camozzi Milligan.
The 501(c)3 non-profit organization changed its name and mission in 2009 and still operates in Portland, Oregon, independent of 2 Gyrlz. The 2GQ publication and multidisciplinary group evolved the non-profit into New Oregon Arts and Letters, publisher of Plazm (magazine).
Bradshaw, Lisa: "Byrd's-eye view: Queer artist creates metaphors for life." Just Out, 11/15/2002.
Darby, Jodi: "Provocateurs: 2 Gyrlz Performative Arts brings you a festival like no other." Just Out, 11/15/2002.
Editorial Staff: "Presto Strange-o! open your heart to a musical week packed with mystery, magic." Willamette Week, 11/13/2002
Foyston, John: "Diagnosis: consumption." The Oregonian, 12/06/2002.
Graham, John: "Words: Not just for nerds anymore." Willamette Week, 7/24/2002.
Gallivan, Joseph: "Peeling the cover from capitalism: Performance artist Alexis McKee brings her message to Portland." The Portland Tribune, 11/1/2002.
Luxford, Dominic: "Exquisite Language." Willamette Week, 11/12/2004.