Traci Mims

The Crown They Wore

Woodcut

About the artist

Traci Mims

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.” Although she spent much time drawing in her youth and always participated in art classes she was not set on becoming an artist and majored in architecture upon attending college at Florida A and M. After being encouraged by her drawing teacher to switch majors she changed to fine arts after sophomore year. Upon graduating she attended Tyler School of Art Temple university where she received an MFA in printmaking.

She has also been an art educator at the collegiate level and has taught for the Florida public school system prior to relocating to Georgia. Her main focus is on creating portraits and stories 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 today's 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.”