Althea Dodson Tanner was born in New Orleans and attended Eleanor McMain High, Augustine Business College, and Newcomb College of Art. A self-taught artist of 60 years, she traveled the world gathering ideas for her art works. Her creative work included watercolor, oil, mixed media, abstract, clay, still life, drawings, sketches, and poems.

Tanner was a lifetime member of Louisiana Watercolor Society and was an active member of National Museum of Women's Art, New Orleans Museum of Art, Contemporary Art Center (CAC), Women's Caucus for Art, International Fine Art Guild and more.