I am a photographer who, through visual storytelling, creates surreal moments about the ways in which we function as humans in an array of different formalities and sequences. I make intricate self portraits that utilize stock imagery of different objects and materials. Posing in complex positions in artificial lighting, I take pictures that are then turned into manipulated composite images. Through a digital camera I am able to depict an emotional scene and then place myself within an imaginative scenario that I have never seen before.
Through my practice I am able to present a vast sense of curiosity, exploration, and wonder, communicating a visually experimental mindscape where viewers can develop different interpretations. My work also uses color filled concepts, emotional expressions, and anti-normative societal norms. Talking about concepts and ideas that talk about the effectiveness and vivacity of blackness as a surrealist artist.
The reason why I create my work is to transform every thought, word, or object into the opposite of normal reality. The surreal world has more opportunity for me to seek out my identity and create a world that is of my own.
CV
Education
December 2024 B.F.A Photography, Texas State University
Exhibitions
2024 Total Eclipse, Sabinal Gallery, San Marcos,TX Prelude, Sabinal Gallery, San Marcos,TX
Notoriously Odd, Cephas House,San Marcos,TX
Measures of Water, Texas Water Project- https://texaswaterproject.cargo.site/deandra
2023 Alone Blue, Student Juried Exhibition, Texas State University San Marcos, TX: curated by Mark Pascale The Art Institute of
Chicago
2021 Shell ,CICA Museum Gimpo, South Korea
Curated/Co Exhibitions
2024 Souls of Prom, Will Van Overbeek,Wittliff Collections, Texas State University, San Marcos,TX
Tesoros: Treasures of Mexican Photographers,Wittliff Collections, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Everything but the kitchen sink, Texas state LBJ Student Center, FAAB (Fine Arts Advisory Board), San Marcos, TX
For the Future, Texas state LBJ Student Center FAAB (Fine Arts Advisory Board), San Marcos, TX
Professional Experience
2024 Intern, Wittliff Collections, Texas State University, San Marcos,TX, Curator: Carla Ellard
Published Work Reviews
2022 “Deandra lee” The Adroit Journal- https://theadroitjournal.org/issue-forty-three/ deandra-lee/?amp
“Deandra lee”Cross Connect Magazine - https:// www.crossconnectmag.com/post/183125383473
2020 “Deandra lee” Jet Fuel- https://www.jetfuelreview.com/deandra-lee- spring-2020.html
"Deandra lee”Rappahannock Review - https:// rappahannockreview.com
"Deandra lee”Aint-Band, by Sydney Gillum https://www.aint-bad.com/article/2020/07/31/deandra-lee-2
"Deandra lee”Artist A Day - https://www.artistaday.com/? p=142330
"Deandra lee” People Life- https://peoplelifeco.wordpress.com/2020/06/11/15-questions-with-artist-deandra- lee/
2019 "Deandra lee”ArtUpon- https://www.artupon.com/ deandra-lee/
"Deandra Lee The Adroit Journal-https://theadroitjournal.org/issue-twenty-nine/deandra-lee/
"Deandra lee” Superstition Rewiew - https:// superstitionreview.asu.edu/issue24/art/ deandralee
"Deandra lee” In A Blog- http://inagblog.com/2019/07/next-artists-29/Awards/ Achievements 2021-2024 Deans List 2021-2024