Tameka Norris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T.J. Dedeaux-Norris
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture (2010) Yale School of Art (2012) |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Years active | 2002–present |
Tameka Norris, also known as T.J. Dedeaux-Norris or Meka Jean, is an American artist. She creates amazing art using painting, sculpture, and performance. Her art often explores ideas about identity and how Black people are seen in society. She also looks at how Black bodies are shown in art history.
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About Tameka Norris
Tameka Norris was born in Hagåtña, Guam. She grew up to become a talented artist. She uses many different ways to make her art. These include painting, making sculptures, and even performing.
Her Education
Norris started her art studies at Santa Monica College. Later, she moved to the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture in 2007. She then earned a special art degree called a Master of Fine Arts. She got this degree from the Yale School of Art in 2012.
Her Career in Art
Today, Tameka Norris is a professor at the University of Iowa. She helps teach new artists there. She has also attended special art programs. These include the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. She has also been part of many artist residencies. These are places where artists can live and create art.
In 2017, she received a grant of $25,000. This money came from the National Endowment for the Arts. This shows how important her art is. Modern Painters magazine even named her one of "24 Artists to Watch in 2013."
Tameka's Art Forms
Tameka Norris uses many different ways to express herself. She is known for her performance art, visual art, films, and even music.
Performance Art
In 2013, Norris was part of a big art show. It was called "Radical Presence: Black Performance in Contemporary Art." This show was at The Studio Museum in Harlem. It featured performance art by Black artists. It covered five decades of their work.
For this show, Norris performed her piece Untitled (2012). In this performance, she used her own body to paint a wall. It was like she was both the paint and the brush!
Visual Art
Norris has had many solo art shows. A solo show means only her art is displayed. Some of her shows include "Family Values" in New Orleans. She also had "Too Good For You" in New York. Another show was "Almost Acquaintances" in London.
Her art was also featured in New American Painting magazine. This magazine highlights great art from students. Her exhibition Between Bloodlines and Floodlines was shown in Atlanta in 2015.
Film Work
Tameka Norris also makes films. Her full-length movie is called Meka Jean: How She Got Good. In this film, she plays herself. She explores what it means to be from New Orleans. The film looks at identity and culture.
In 2011, she made a video art piece. It was a new version of an older artwork. This video was shown in her "Family Values" exhibition.
Music
In 2016, Norris released a rap album. It was called "Ivy League Ratchet." This album was part of an art exhibition. The songs on the album talked about important topics. These included being a woman of color. She also sang about going to an Ivy League school.
Personal Life
T.J. Dedeaux-Norris is also known as Meka Jean. This nickname was given to her when she was a child.
