Tia Santana is a ceramic artist, My practice is reflective to my experience of my identity. My work is a metaphoric reflection through ceramic materials of my experiences both reflective and present.

Artist Statement:

My work explores ethnic hair and it’s associations via extensions represented in clay. Recalling history and permanence of both physical and metaphorical, hair adornment in the traditional practices of black culture, acceptance, transformation, and adaptation are explored and referenced throughout my work. My practice includes interlocking clay and hair as a medium. My portraits intertwine my own natural coils collected for several years, eventually rolled into the clay coils of my vessels that burn out during the firing process leaving no trace. Wall sculptures of casted figures of myself and women of color exhibit both synthetic and clay coils of locs. Wall sculptures of coils and printed text on board compose compositionally abstracted drawings signed with hair extensions and imagery to document my narrative of hair identity and white institutionalism. My work pushes the boundaries of clay. Coils weave, knot, and twist throughout the pieces, creating both visual and emotional responses. My desire is to expand my work beyond traditionally unrepresented spaces into institutional white space such as galleries to expand and share our narrative. It is my vision to vocalize the narrative of bias, prejudice, and a lack of equity associated with race and ones ethnic traits.

Tia Santana, Vitae

Master of Fine Art University of Delaware, Newark Delaware, 2011
Bachelors of Fine Arts 2 Dimensional Design, Bachelors of Fine Art 3 Dimensional Design, Minor: Fashion Design, Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA 2005

Teaching

New Jersey/ Rowan University at Burlington County 2018-present Mt. Holly New Jersey
Title: Adjunct Professor
Course taught:

3D Design

Delaware/ The Delaware Contemporary 2015-Present

Wilmington, Delaware
Title: Master Teaching Artist/ Student Outreach Programs Coordinator Delaware ContemporaryContracted Programs:

● CAC: Howard Technical Highschool, Wilmington DE. & Delcastle Technical Highschool, DelCastle DE.
● Freire Charter School, Wilmington, DE
● Latin American Community Center, Wilmington, DE
● Las Americas Aspira Academy, Newark, DE
● Kuumba Academy Charter School, Wilmington DE
● WHYY Community Arts Event, Wilmington, DE
● Chase Financial, Makers Space Event, Wilmington DE
Creative Center for the Arts, Yorklyn, DE 2015
Yorklyn Delaware
Title: Ceramics Studio Program Manager/ InstructorCourses taught (by title)

● Wheel Throwing/ Pottery
● Introduction to Wheel Throwing
● Independent Projects In Clay
● Ceramics: Handbuilding
● Intro to Ceramics
● Intemediate/ Advance Wheel Throwing
● Sculpting Into Ceramics
● Contemporary Clay Forms
Brandywine River Art Museum, 2016 -present
Chadds Ford, PA
Title: Teaching Artist
Community Program Artist/ Sensory Art Programing Instructor
The Hickman of West Chester PA 2015-2020
West Chester, PA
Title: Community Teaching Artist
Ceramics and Water Color Programs for Senior Residents

Freedom Village at Brandywine 2017 -2018

Coatesville, PA
Title: Title: Teaching Artist

Darlington Arts, 2015 -2018

Glen Mills, PA
Title: Ceramic InstructorCourses taught (by title)

● Ceramics & Pottery
● Wheel Throwing
Avon Grove Charter School 2015
West Grove, PA
Title: Title: Teaching Artist
The Hickman 2015 -present
West Chester, PA
Moore College of Art & Design: YAW Program 2011-2012 Philadelphia PA
Title: Instructor
Course taught: Intro to Sculpture
University of Delaware 2009 -2011
Newark, DE
Title: TA/ (Instructor of Record)

● TA, Media Design Spring 2009
● (Instructor of record) Design II, Spring 2010
● (Instructor of record) Design I, Fall 2010
● (Instructor of record) Intro to Ceramics Winter 2011
● (Instructor of record) Intro to Ceramics, Spring 2011
● TA, The Art of Liberation, Spring 2011
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center/ PA Cyber 2007-2010
EddyStone, PA
Title: Art InstructorCourses taught (by title)2D Design
3D Design
Sculpture
Painting
Design and Color Theory
Lansdowne Preschool Academy 2007 -2011
Lansdowne, PA Title:Preschool/ Art Instructor

Boys and Girls Club 2006

Wilmington, DE Title: Art Director

Taller Puertorriqueno, 2004 -2006

Philadelphia PA Title: Teaching Artist

Residencies
Kingswood Community Center Summer Artist in Residence 2017

Wilmington Delaware

Kingswood Community Center Summer Artist in Residence 2016

Wilmington Delaware

The Hickman, Artist In Residence 2016-2017

West Chester PA

Published Articles

Family Health & Medicine 2019
Title: Improving Seniors’ Health Through Art, by Charles “Ebbie” Alfree III

Delaware Public Media 2018
Title: Arts Playlist: Draper Experiment coming to The Delaware Contemporary, by Kelli Steele

Tribune 2015

By Jacqueline Kimball

Don Art News: Philadelphia Art News Blog 2011 By Don Brewer

Selected Exhibitions

The Delaware Contemporary: Art & Soul, , Wilmington Delaware 2019 Currated

The Delaware Contemporary: The Drapper Experiment, Wilmington Delaware 2019 Solo

The Delaware Contemporary: On Maddison, Wilmington Delaware 2018 Currated

West Chester Gallery Walk: The Hickman, West Chester PA 2017 Curated

Darling Arts Faculty Show, Glen Mills PA 2017 Curated

West Chester Gallery Walk: The Hickman, West Chester PA 2016 Curated

Darling Arts Faculty Show, Glen Mills PA 2016 Curated

Repositioning Blackness, Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington Delaware 2016 Solo

Darlington Arts Art Auction, Glen Mills PA 2015 Juried

Center For Creative Arts, Yorklyn PA 2015 Juried

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia PA 2004 Juried

Moore Collee of Art & Design, Title: 5 Into 1, Philadelphia PA 2005 Juried