"Descendant" by Traci Mims

12 x 12 inches oil painting on canvas-- unframed 

Traci Mims is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida currently living and working in the Atlanta Georgia area.  She says “Art has always been a part of my life. I have been drawing since the age of 4 after watching my father draw portraits.” Her main focus is on creating portraits that are thought provoking. About the meaning and content of her work she states “My work focuses on themes related to Black identity and being a black woman in todays cultural and political climate. I also like to focus on historical narratives and individuals. My ideas are often expressed in the form of cultural allegory and social realism. I am motivated by art that has an underlying message that engages the viewer in a way they can relate to. Art for me is many things but mainly it is my passion and my voice when I have a statement to make. It has also been my protest when circumstances of injustice arise. I never grow weary creating only resentful that there is not more time in a day to print, draw or paint.” Ms. Mims is formally trained in the visual arts with degrees from Florida A and M university (BA)and Tyler school of art, Temple university(MFA).