marteena taylor
SELF-TAUGHT, Mixed-media Artist of Mississippi
Welcome
bio
Mixed-Media Artist from the Mid-South
"Marteena Taylor is a self-taught, mixed-media artist from the Mid-South. During daylight hours, she works as an online speech language pathologist. At night, her passion for painting thrives. She discovered painting as a means to help her cope with anxiety and grief she experienced during the pandemic. Her art centers around the shared beliefs, identity, and aesthetics of African Americans. As a child, she was afforded opportunities to visit art museums and admired the work of many exceptional artists. During those visits, she noticed that African Americans were often limited in their depictions. She was dismayed at the portrayals as servants, enslaved people, or absence of African Americans from works of art at all. "There is so much more to our culture. I became an artist to create the change that I desire. My pieces are depictions of the beauty that I see within my culture," Taylor said of her work. She is influenced by many artists such as Jacob Lawrence, Amy Sherald, Titus Kaphar, Kehinde Wiley, Bisa Butler, Troy Guilbeaux, Kevin Williams, and Vitus Shell."
-Christian Kirk, Public Relations Consultant
My Canvas
I specialize in textiles and acrylic on canvas.
After an acrylic painting is completed, I often feel compelled to add "a little something extra" to it. It amazes me that I can add a multitude of things to make a piece stand out. I discovered a deep fondness for mixed media art. I work in textiles (synthetic hair, spackling paste, beads, yarn, flowers, food) and acrylic on canvas. I love how my artwork grabs the attention and curiosity of onlookers. The addition of textiles makes the art more engaging for people of all ages.
My journey
Exhibitions
Art Bazaar at the Hattiloo Theater, Memphis, TN
April 21, 2023
Group Exhibition
Batesville Public Library, Batesville, MS
April 16, 2023
Group Exhibition
R.C. Pugh Library of Northwest MS Community College, Senatobia, MS
March 1-30, 2023
Solo Exhibition
Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, Memphis, TN
January 15- February 28, 2023
Group Exhibition
Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, Memphis, TN
December 6, 2022
Group Exhibition
Memphis Black Arts Alliance, Memphis, TN
October 28 - November 7, 2022
Solo Exhibition
Sardis Public Library, Sardis, MS
August 20-25, 2022
Solo Exhibition
GALLERY INVITATIONS
May 2023- 2023 Shades of Black Exhibit at the AVA Gallery of Chattanooga, TN. May 2023- June 2023. Selected artworks: Stained Glass Beauty, Day & Night
March 2023- 2023 Black History Month Exhibition at the Contemporary Art Gallery Online of Middletown, DE. March 2023- May 2023. Selected artworks: Cotton Candilocs, Stained Glass Beauty, A Balanced Union, Day & Night, Powerpuff
March 2023- Power of Women Art Exhibit at Kirkwood Branch of the Atlanta Library of Atlanta, GA. March 2023- May 2023. Selected artwork: Day & Night
March 2023- The Women's Exhibit at Josephy Center for Arts and Culture of Joseph, Oregon. March 2023- April 2023. Selected artwork: Cotton Candilocs
February 2023 — 2023 Hip Hop Studies Summit Online Community Exhibition by Chaffey College of Rancho Cucamonga, California. February 2023- Jan 2024. Selected artworks: Bee a Bantu Baddie; A Balanced Union; Day & Night; Cotton Candilocs
Photo of Wrap Queen at Creamery arts center (Springfield, MO)
Gallery INVITATIONS
Photo of A bAlanced Union & Bee a bantu baddie at 311 Gallery (Raleigh, NC)
January 2023 — Your Place at the Table III: Rooted Art Exhibition at 311 Gallery of Raleigh, North Carolina. December 2022- January 2023. Selected artworks: Bee a Bantu Baddie; A Balanced Union
December 2022— Biafarin Awards 2022 International Online Group Exhibition of Ontario, Canada. December 20,2022 - January 20, 2023. Selected artwork: Wrap Queen
October 2022 — 6th Annual “Patterns, Textures, & Forms” Art Exhibition: Light, Space, & Time Online Art Gallery of Santa Fe, New Mexico. October- December 2022. Selected artwork: Day & Night
October 2022 — Artistic Independence Online Art Exhibition: Las Laguna Art Gallery of Laguna Beach, California. October 6- 29, 2022. Selected artwork: Powerpuff.
September 2022 — Pure Enjoyment Exhibition at Creamery Arts Center in Springfield, Missouri. September 28-October 28,2022. Selected artwork: Wrap Queen.
tHE bLK cROWN cOLLECTIVE, 2022
POWERPUFF
Dimensions: 16 x 20
Concept: Displays how the afro puffs have transcended from the 60s until today. Black hair is beautiful.
Year: 2022
STAINED GLASS BEAUTY
Dimensions: 20 x 16
Concept: Depicts the beauty of AA women with hair color.
Year: 2022
DAY & NIGHT
Dimensions: 20 x 32 (Diptych)
Concept: Depicts how AA twins differ intrinsically and externally.
Year: 2022
A balanced union
Dimensions: 20 x 32 (Diptych)
Concept: Equal physical and sexual responsibility of Black men and women
Year: 2021
i create artistic expressions of African American aesthetics, IDENTITY, and beliefs. i will always celebrate us.
Representation matters
*Video footage and photo taken @ The Blk Crown Collective Solo Exhibition/ Memphis, TN.
aRTIST'S sTATEMENT
CURRENT SERIES: THE BLK CROWN COLLECTIVE
My artworks celebrate the passage of the CROWN Act, a law prohibiting natural hair discrimination. Growing up, I learned that an African American woman's appearance is heavily policed and exploited by members of our own culture and those outside of it. Sporting my natural hair in braids, headwraps, bantu knots, or an afro was deemed unprofessional in many settings. The notion of "professional" hairstyles equated to the way that non-melanated people wore their hair. Because of this idea, I wore relaxers, extensions, press n' curls to appear “professional.” Consequently, I struggled to embrace my natural coily hair. African Americans are often forced to remove those hairstyles or face losing career/educational advancement opportunities. Imagine how one feels to witness non-melanated people receive praise and recognition for adopting hairstyles that African American women are humiliated for. My artwork embraces African American beauty and the freedom to sport our natural hairstyles without restrictions.
cotton candilocs
Dimensions: 30 x 24
Concept: Depiction of African American beauty features
Year: 2022
RAINBOW
Dimensions: 20 x 16
Concept: Pays homage to the traditional beaded hairstyle worn in ancient Africa and today. Beads symbolized wealth, royal lineage, spiritual connection and fertility.
Year: 2023
SWEETNESS
Dimensions: 14 x 11
Concept: Depicts the innocence of pre-teen AA girls.
Year: 2023
contact me
FACEBOOK
pRISTEEN COLOURED ARTISTRY
instagram
pristeencolouredart
PRISTEENCOLOUREDART@GMAIL.COM
