BIO
Artist Tracy Poindexter-Canton
Tracy Poindexter-Canton is a mixed media artist in Spokane, Washington. Through collage, vibrancy and portraiture, Poindexter-Canton examines Black American identity and melding literary imagery with visual art. An eclectic assortment of media and materials are incorporated into her work – often including acrylic, oil pastel, ink, feathers, beads, magazine clippings, bubble wrap, scrapbook paper, nylon cord and found objects.
Poindexter-Canton's background includes a combination of traditional and non-traditional study, including an undergraduate degree in English/Creative Writing from Seattle University, a master’s degree in Communications and Leadership studies from Gonzaga University, and enrollment in myriad art classes in mixed media, acrylic, graphite pencil, to name a few.
Her acclaimed mixed media series, “To Shalimar,” celebrates the literary greatness of Nobel Prize-winning author, Toni Morrison and Morrison’s famous novels, “The Bluest Eye,” “Sula,” “Song of Solomon,” “Beloved” and "Home" while exploring identity, trauma, self-love, sisterhood and beauty through a Black American lens. Four pieces in this series were recently acquired by the Washington Arts Commission and Spokane Public Library for their permanent public art collections.
Poindexter-Canton's recent acceptance onto the Washington State Arts Commission's Public Artist Roster and the City of Seattle's Office of Arts & Culture's Public Art Artist Roster, has made her eligible to create site-responsive works of art for K-12 public schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies.
As a mostly self-taught professional artist, intuition plays a huge role in Poindexter-Canton's creative process. She relies heavily on her senses and the right side of her brain to create freely and fearlessly with the intention of translating to the viewer the colorful imagery, memories and feelings radiating from her head, heart and soul.
She has exhibited work in large and smaller cities throughout Washington state including Spokane, Medical Lake, Olympia, Pullman, Richland, Burien and Seattle as well as via online galleries based in California and Germany.