Mercedes Dorame facts for kids

Mercedes Dorame is an American artist known for her unique artworks. She was born in 1980 and lives in Malibu, California. Her art often explores her family's history and connection to the land.

About Mercedes Dorame

Mercedes Dorame was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. She is proud of her Tongva heritage. The Tongva people are the native inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin.

Her Education

Mercedes studied art at two well-known universities. She earned her first degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2003. Later, she received her master's degree in fine arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2010.

Her Amazing Artworks

Mercedes Dorame creates special art pieces called structural installations. These are artworks that often fill a space and can be walked around or through. Her art helps people think about history, land, and culture.

Connecting Past and Present

Some of her famous works include Orion’s Belt—Paahe’ Sheshiiyot—a map for moving between worlds (2018). Another important piece is Our Land and Sky Waking Up - ‘Eyoo’ooxon koy Tokuupar Chorii’aa (2021). These artworks used ancient "cog stones." These stones are about 75,000 years old! They were found in Orange County, California.

Art in Famous Places

Mercedes Dorame's art has been shown in many important museums. Her work is part of the permanent collections at the Hammer Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It has also been displayed at the Catalina Museum for Art and History. The Los Angeles Times newspaper has written about her art.

One of her pieces, "Portal for Tovaangar," was shown virtually at the LACMA campus. From June 2023 to June 2024, her artwork Woshaa’axre Yaang’aro (Looking Back) was featured in the main hall of the Getty Center.

Awards and Recognitions

Mercedes Dorame has received several awards for her artistic talent. These awards help artists continue their important work.

• In 2011, she was named a Harpo Foundation fellow.
• In 2012, she became En Foco's New Works Photography fellow.
• The San Francisco Foundation gave her the James D. Phelan Award in the Visual Arts in 2017.
• She also received a Creative Capital Grant in 2020.