Artist | Entrepreneur | Activist
BIOGRAPHY
b. 1985, St. Louis, MO
Living in Oklahoma & creator of Underground Tree Studios
Living in Oklahoma & creator of Underground Tree Studios
Dawn Tree, who was born in St. Louis, partially raised in North Carolina, moved to Tulsa as a youth, attending Jenks High School & graduating with a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
Tree is an American Folk Abstract artist as well as entrepreneur, running her creative marketing company Underground Tree Studios full time.
Tree has resided in Tulsa a little over a year now, after residing in Baltimore & DC for the last decade.
As a social activist and spiritual seeker Tree’s abstract creations often reflect nature, current disasters, the political climate and community with vivid depictions for a hopeful envisioned future. Her current scope of work is entitled, “The freQuency of Fear” and a running graphic series highlighting Black Wall Street : Truth modernized is also a focus.
You can find Dawn Tree on all social media platforms as Underground Tree or Underground Tree Studios.
EDUCATION
2009
University of Oklahoma, BA Journalism, Minor Africana Studies
2012
Tulsa Technology, Graphic Design/Web Development
Tulsa Technology, Graphic Design/Web Development
Medium
A majority of her works are on wood, combining various mediums of paint & materials from aerosol, latex acrylic, water based acrylic, oil to vinyl records to create.
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 her, you really have to think about your work. Simple, but that’s genuinely the point. Thought.
A majority of her works are on wood, combining various mediums of paint & materials from aerosol, latex acrylic, water based acrylic, oil to vinyl records to create.
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 her, you really have to think about your work. Simple, but that’s genuinely the point. Thought.
Art Currently Hanging
Land of Kush 840 N Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Sponz’s Jazz Cafe 44th & Mingo, Tulsa, OK
Land of Kush 840 N Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Sponz’s Jazz Cafe 44th & Mingo, Tulsa, OK
Artist Resume
Group Exhibitions | Spaces
2006-2008 University of Oklahoma Student Union Art Gallery | Norman, Ok |
2010 Dekka Gallery |1338 Ust. Washington, DC |
2010 Edges of the World Arts Market | Rhode Island District, DC | June
2010 – 2011 Grounded Vision’s Mural (Lead Muralist organizer) | Georgia Avenue, Washington, DC | Sankofa Bookstore featured the art installation for 1 year | Participation from Muralist Joel Bergner, Elizabeth Stewart, Ziggy
Aug 2010 First on 1st Art Walk | Bloomingdale District, Wash, DC
Nov. 2011 Pigtown Arts Festival/Artdomeda | Baltimore, MD |
Jan. 2011 Perceptions Finagled | Mt. Rainier, MD
Feb. 2011 Tree Hearts showcase (Everlasting Life) | Washington, DC
May 2012 Blue Dome Art’s Fest |Tulsa, OK
June 2012 Outra Eclipse Gallery exhibition (Collaborative with Steven Brothers) | Tulsa, OK
June 2013 A Poet Art Gallery | Philadelphia, PA
April 2015 Pancake & Booze | Washington, DC
Jan. 2017 Museum of Impact hosted Upstanders ~ MLK tribute 2 day exhibition | Urban Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (Live Paint)
Dec. 2017 Greenwood Art, Archive, Curio Preview opening
July 2017 Jazz Museum fundraiser hosted by African American Museum | Oklahoma City, OK
2010 Dekka Gallery |1338 Ust. Washington, DC |
2010 Edges of the World Arts Market | Rhode Island District, DC | June
2010 – 2011 Grounded Vision’s Mural (Lead Muralist organizer) | Georgia Avenue, Washington, DC | Sankofa Bookstore featured the art installation for 1 year | Participation from Muralist Joel Bergner, Elizabeth Stewart, Ziggy
Aug 2010 First on 1st Art Walk | Bloomingdale District, Wash, DC
Nov. 2011 Pigtown Arts Festival/Artdomeda | Baltimore, MD |
Jan. 2011 Perceptions Finagled | Mt. Rainier, MD
Feb. 2011 Tree Hearts showcase (Everlasting Life) | Washington, DC
May 2012 Blue Dome Art’s Fest |Tulsa, OK
June 2012 Outra Eclipse Gallery exhibition (Collaborative with Steven Brothers) | Tulsa, OK
June 2013 A Poet Art Gallery | Philadelphia, PA
April 2015 Pancake & Booze | Washington, DC
Jan. 2017 Museum of Impact hosted Upstanders ~ MLK tribute 2 day exhibition | Urban Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (Live Paint)
Dec. 2017 Greenwood Art, Archive, Curio Preview opening
July 2017 Jazz Museum fundraiser hosted by African American Museum | Oklahoma City, OK
April 2018 Mr. Henry’s DC | Omni Collective | Washington, DC
May 2018 Oklahoma Black Museum & Performing Art Center | Oklahoma City, OK
Solo Exhibitions
Jan. 2011 Exhibition in Scales Residence (Residency Solo) | Tulsa, OK
March 2011 Tabaq Bistro Nova Rays Exhibition, (Solo) | Washington, DC
Aug. 2012 DC Scoop Gallery, (Solo) | Washington, DC
Aug. 2013 Chief Ike’s (Solo) | Washington, DC
June 2014 Busboys & Poets | 5th & K Washington, DC | (6 month show)
Feb. 2016 Smith Commons (Solo) | Washington, DC
May 2016 Cambria Hotel (Solo) | Washington, DC
March 2017 Peace and a cup of Joe | Baltimore, MD
June 2017 Juneteenth exhibition at Blow Out Salon | Tulsa, OK
Jan. 2011 Exhibition in Scales Residence (Residency Solo) | Tulsa, OK
March 2011 Tabaq Bistro Nova Rays Exhibition, (Solo) | Washington, DC
Aug. 2012 DC Scoop Gallery, (Solo) | Washington, DC
Aug. 2013 Chief Ike’s (Solo) | Washington, DC
June 2014 Busboys & Poets | 5th & K Washington, DC | (6 month show)
Feb. 2016 Smith Commons (Solo) | Washington, DC
May 2016 Cambria Hotel (Solo) | Washington, DC
March 2017 Peace and a cup of Joe | Baltimore, MD
June 2017 Juneteenth exhibition at Blow Out Salon | Tulsa, OK
Jan 2018 AnnMarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center | Solomon’s Island, MD
Feb 2018 Oklahoma Black Museum & Performing arts | OKC, OK
Feb 2018 Greenwood Archive, Art, Curio | Tulsa OK
April 2018 Lang Gallery | Burlington, NJ
June 2018 The Juice | Abstract Distraction | St. Louis, MO
July 2018 UrbArts Gallery | during Lyrical Therapy | St. Louis, MO
Sept 2018 Freedom CBD Pharm | Kendal Whittier Art Crawl | Tulsa, OK
Artist Residency
Jan. 2011 Exhibition in Scales Residence (Residency Solo) | Tulsa, OK
Jan. 2018 MLK Days Public Art Project Residency | Solomon’s Island, MD
Live Painting
April 2016’ Honey Groove Festival (Live Paint) | Whino Space, Washington, DC
May 2016 Bethea Wedding Reception (Live Paint)
June 2016 DC Arts Center Cuisine de Artiste (Live Paint)| Madison Mansion Wash. DC
Jan. 2017 Museum of Impact hosted Upstanders ~ MLK tribute 2 day exhibition | Urban Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (Live Paint)
Sept. 2017 Honey Groove Festival | Wash, DC
June 2016 DC Arts Center Cuisine de Artiste (Live Paint)| Madison Mansion Wash. DC
Jan. 2017 Museum of Impact hosted Upstanders ~ MLK tribute 2 day exhibition | Urban Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (Live Paint)
Sept. 2017 Honey Groove Festival | Wash, DC
May 2018 John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Literacy Dedication | Tulsa, Oklahoma
Speaking Engagements
2016 University Oklahoma Alumni minority dinner | Tulsa, OK
May 2017 DC Music Summit, Hst, Washington, DC
Feb. 2018 TCC, High School Career Day, Tulsa, OK
Mar. 2018 McClain High School Junior & Senior Girls, Tulsa OK
2016 University Oklahoma Alumni minority dinner | Tulsa, OK
May 2017 DC Music Summit, Hst, Washington, DC
Feb. 2018 TCC, High School Career Day, Tulsa, OK
Mar. 2018 McClain High School Junior & Senior Girls, Tulsa OK
Aug. 2018 Philbrook Museum Talkback Taja Lindley: The Bag Lady Manifesta
