Born in St. Louis, MO, raised partially in Clinton, NC & Tulsa, OK, graduated from the University of Oklahoma, BA Journalism 2008 and from there I relocated to the gentrified yet culturally rich area of Washington, DC. Where I spent a year navigating a non-profit where I was one of my kind. There we taught and supported youth who wanted to be entrepreneurs. Being a minority in this global yet oppressive environment propelled me to start my own business.

2009 I began to write poetry, memorize it and spout it just to release. I found my style of abstract painting, experienced love and just learned how to live in a city that cared less where you were from. New years 2011 I walked down Ust to see where I could hang my art and the first spot I stopped into said yes. DeKKA. That venue changed my life, I was able to host events and just be free.

All the while growing my business, Underground Tree Studios.

Year 2014 I spent half the year in Ghana. Conducting marketing business with a tourism company called Homeland Exploration Tours and traveling regions of the great motherland, trekking on foot via tro tro (van) and bicycle. That experience certainly changed my being to the core.

Connecting to the motherland, the culture, the people I can now call family as well witnessing the poverty and cast system, the invasion of others on a land no theirs. Witnessing such scenes were compelling.

2015-2017 I spent some intimate time in Baltimore, MD— allowing my being to feel the beginnings and aftermath of Freddie Gray riots, witnessing extremely disproportionate economic environments all the while witnessing strong community. I was able to be politically involved, picking up opportunity to assist with the Catherine Pugh Mayoral Campaign by volunteering. I taught at the brilliant makers space Open Works. I worked with the Greater Baltimore Urban League. Got to know many people in the community. Now I have decided I wish to assist in beautifying the community through the arts, technology and entrepreneurship.

Now I am visiting my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, home of my family for one & my high school. This is also the historical grounds of a very resilient yet tragic event called Black Wall Street & the 1921 Race Massacre that occurred in the district of Greenwood. Since being here I am making it a duty to get involved and see my hometown of Tulsa grow amongst the already key leaders who are pushing to make North Tulsa, which in turn makes all of Tulsa, beautiful economically, politically and socially.

While here I have traveled to Maryland, DC, New Jersey, Philadelphia, St. Louis for art opportunities.

Leggo! I’m an artist.

 

Education

News Editorial Jouralism, University of Oklahoma, 2008

Graphic/Web design, Tulsa Technology Center 2012

Awards & Boards

Most Socially Aware Reporter, University of Oklahoma

Design Advisory Board, Tulsa Technology Center

 

____________________________________________________________________________

I draw inspiration from everything: Nature, everyday interactions, emotions, things perceived to be unseen. Pulling all these influences together, I allow the vision of a piece to direct me on a journey of visual exploration. A majority of my works are on wood, combining various mediums of paint & materials from aerosol, latex acrylic, water based acrylic, oil to vinyl records to create.

My pieces often provoke thought of community, humanity, spirituality and connections of present and past. They often use bright colors that contrast with each other; allowing you to interpret and see many perspectives within one. Someone once said to me, you really have to think about your work. Simple, but for me, that’s genuinely the point. Thought. 

I love people and sometimes get caught up in the day based on my curiosity for the human spirit; your understandings compared to mine. Sitting in the forest, riding my bike, being close to anything my creator created sparks my creativity.

Medium of Choice: Upcycled Latex Acrylic Paint. Aerosol. on Wood.

Dawn Tree