Diana Oh Obituary: Beloved NYC Artist Known as Zaza Passes Away

The indie/AAPI/queer theater community mourns a radiant force of creation and love

The vibrant New York City arts scene is mourning the loss of a singular talent: Diana Oh, affectionately known as Zaza, has passed away. Revered for their fearless and genre-defying artistry, Diana Oh was a pioneering queer Korean-American generative artist who made an indelible impact on the indie, AAPI, and queer theater community. Their passing has left a palpable void in a world they helped to make more inclusive, expressive, and radically loving.

A Trailblazer in Queer and AAPI Art

Diana Oh’s artistic fingerprint was vast and eclectic. They were a performer, musician, singer, songwriter, installation artist, and cultural visionary, whose work consistently centered marginalized voices—particularly women, queer, trans, and non-binary people of color. Their creativity wasn’t just seen—it was felt. Diana Oh created art that connected deeply with the body, spirit, and collective imagination of their communities.

Their best-known works include:

• {my lingerie play} – A bold series of ten underground performance installations and a concert performed in lingerie to confront and dismantle the systems that silence women and LGBTQ+ people.

• The Infinite Love Party – A barefoot potluck dinner, dance party, and sleepover centering QTPOC joy and community care.

• My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre – A searing critique of exclusion and systemic racism within American theater.

A Collaborative Spirit

Diana Oh was also a cherished performer in works by other revolutionary artists. They appeared in Taylor Mac’s epic “A 24-Decade History of Popular Music” and Hansol Jung’s “Among the Dead,” showing their range and dedication as a performer who gave voice to radical, transformative storytelling.

Recognized and Celebrated

Throughout their life, Diana Oh was honored for their brilliance and contribution to the arts:

• Refinery29 Top LGBTQ Influencer

• Sundance Institute Fellow

• Van Lier Fellow with the Asian American Arts Alliance

• Tow Fellow with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater

• Venturous Fellow and Elphaba Thropp Fellow

• Writer with The Public Theater’s Mobile Unit

• Member of The Public’s 2019 Emerging Writers Group

They also made history as the first queer Korean-American interviewed on Korean Broadcast Radio.

CLAIRVOYANCE and Beyond

Their project CLAIRVOYANCE, a yearlong performance series, featured installations and concerts at prestigious institutions including Harvard Yard, Boston Public Library, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and Oberon with A.R.T. Diana also starred as Devon in the YouTube series Queering, bringing authentic queer stories to a broader audience.

Remembering Zaza

The New York Times called Diana Oh “irreverent.” Friends, collaborators, and audiences called them a visionary, a trailblazer, and above all, a friend. The Venn diagram where indie, AAPI, and queer art in NYC intersects will forever bear their shape.

Diana Oh lived, created, and loved out loud. Their legacy is one of radical joy, fearless truth, and boundless generosity. As the community grieves, it also celebrates the life of a person who gave everything to make the world more expressive, compassionate, and just.

Rest in Power, Zaza.
Your art, your love, and your light live on.