[1] Founded in 2019 while Jordyn Jay was studying for a Masters Degree in art politics at New York University, BTFA aims to connect and uplift Black trans women and Black trans nonbinary femmes who have a mutual interest in the field of art.
[2] After noticing a lack of knowledge of Black trans femme art in the art history courses at NYU, Jay began hosting open mic nights and building a social media presence to generate artist talks and performances that would provide Black trans femme artists with resources to be successful in the arts.
The organization, which currently exists online, includes artist resources and directories, links to emergency relief funds, and more.
The announcement coincided with a benefit that collected over $200,000 for Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, the Emergency Release Fund, and Gays & Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.).
[4] In November 2020, fashion designer Ella Emhoff expressed her support for the organization and held a raffle to raise money for it.