Tay Butler

BIO. (view CV here)

Tay Butler is multi-disciplinary artist based in Houston, TX while studying in Fayetteville, AR. Currently an MFA candidate of the University of Arkansas’ Photography and Studio Art program, Tay received his BFA in Photography and Digital Media from the University of Houston. Retiring from the US Army and abandoning a dream engineering career to search for purpose, Tay reignited a rich love and appreciation for art and Black history. Using history as canvas and memory as glue, Tay creates a historically-layered body of work. Using the Great Migration as a launching point, Tay permeates his imagery with Black pride, conflict and experience, encased by the global realities and institutions that influence them.

Tay is consistently building a portfolio of photography, photomontage, collage/assemblage, moving image and sound exhibitions as well as performance-driven works. Solo exhibitions of his work has included RE.Migrant I & II, Project Row Houses, Houston, TX. Group exhibitions of his work has been organized in spaces such as The Levitt, Iowa City, IA; Texas Southern University Gallery, Houston, TX (first prize – Annual African-American Exhibition); Communication Gallery, Madison, WI; and Flatland Gallery, Houston, TX.