Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate Dee.
Nate, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been creating art in some way my entire life. When graduating from college I decided to go into art education. I started teaching it in public schools. When I started teaching I completely stopped creating art for about 5 yrs. It’s one of those things when you feel like something is missing from your life but you can’t put your finger on exactly what it is. After 5 yrs. of teaching I decided to get a masters and went back to school for more training… Immediately after starting one of my advanced classes, that’s when it hit me. I realized I hadn’t made any art in so long.
That’s when I decided that I need to start creating again and fill that void. A few years of this and I also decided to pursue art seriously as a career. I started showing a lot in the Fort Lauderdale area. in group shows through artserve, local galleries, cafes, and the Broward art guild… but my work was very urban. I was looking at a lot of street art and urban art so my pieces always contrasted the paintings of beach landscapes, boat scenes, and traditional portraits that were in the shows I was getting into. Around this time, I started hearing about the Miami art scene… so that’s when I started showing my work in Miami which also coincided with the rise of Wynwood as well as its general art scene.
Fast forward a few more years and now I’ve been blessed to with opportunities to work alongside many local and international artists, I travel to other states, cities, and countries to create art. I’ve experience things that I’ve never thought I would all in the name of following my passion. and I’m not looking back.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My current masked series examines the use of animals and zoomorphic iconography from various cultures. For many past and contemporary societies, animals have various connotations whether religious, spiritual, or their images have been used to embody certain personality traits. In other cases, as found in (i.e. European) literature they can be represented as a guide, protectors, antagonists, ethereal, and even demonic.
The series of masked woman in my current focus use these animals as an extension of these psychological & metaphysical attributes as they assert themselves in their own realities.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
Finding that niche that works for you and using your unique voice to develop within it. Everything else is achievable given effort, networking, etc.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I currently have work with WYN317 in Wynwood, I also have work at the Wynwood exhibition center, and with MUCE in Little Haiti, you can see my work also at natedee.com, on ig @miaminate, and I have murals all over south Florida.
Contact Info:
- Website: natedee.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/artistnatedee
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/miaminate
Image Credit:
Pirate Photo by alain green
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