Tyree Guyton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tyree Guyton
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| Born | August 24, 1955 |
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| Spouse(s) | Jenenne Whitfield |
Tyree Guyton (born August 24, 1955) is a famous artist from Detroit, Michigan. He is married to Jenenne Whitfield and still lives in Detroit. Before becoming an artist, Tyree worked as a firefighter and in a car factory. He also served in the U.S. Army.
Tyree Guyton studied art at Marygrove College, Wayne State University, and the Center for Creative Studies. This school is now called the College for Creative Studies. He says his grandfather, Sam Mackey, and Detroit artist Charles McGee taught him the most.
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Tyree Guyton's Early Life
Tyree Guyton grew up on Heidelberg Street in Detroit. This neighborhood greatly influenced his art. As a child, he often visited the Detroit Institute of Arts with his grandfather. He also lived through the Detroit riots in 1967.
After high school, Tyree served in the U.S. Army. When he finished his military service, he decided to follow his dream of becoming an artist. He started taking night classes with artist Charles McGee. These classes were at the College for Creative Studies.
Tyree Guyton's Art Career
In 1986, Tyree Guyton and his grandfather created the Heidelberg Project. This art project made him famous around the world. He became known as an artist, a teacher, and a community leader. The Heidelberg Project is planning to close. This is because Tyree wants to work on new art projects.
Tyree Guyton is an honorary director for the Heidelberg Project. But lately, he has focused on his own art shows. He also spends time giving talks and teaching. In 2007, he started teaching a special program at Wayne State University.
Art Around the World
Tyree Guyton's art has been shown all over the world. In 1999, the United States Department of State featured his work. It was part of the Art in Embassies Program. His art was shown in the American Embassy in Quito, Ecuador.
You can find his permanent art installations in many places. These include Sydney, Australia, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and Mount Vernon, New York.
Awards and Recognition
Tyree Guyton has won many awards for his art and his work helping people. Some of his awards include:
- Wayne County International Artist Award (2003)
- Award of Recognition from Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (2002)
- "Michigan Artist of the Year" from Governor John Engler (1992)
- Humanity in the Arts Award from Wayne State University (1992)
- "Michiganian of the Year Award" (1991)
- "Spirit of Detroit Award" from the Detroit City Council (1989)
Documentaries and Books
In 1999, a film about Tyree Guyton was made by HBO Films. It was called "Come Unto Me: The Faces of Tyree Guyton." This film won many awards. It even won an Emmy Award in 2000 for its editing. The director, Nicole Cattell, also received an honor at the Sundance Film Festival.
In 2005, Tyree Guyton and the Heidelberg Project were in a documentary. It was called "Urban Shrines" and shown on Vision TV. In 2007, his art was in a French documentary. This film was about Techno music artists. The children's book Magic Trash tells Tyree Guyton's story. It also talks about the Heidelberg Project.
