tracy poindexter-canton
ABOUT TRACY
Spokane, Washington
Tracy Poindexter-Canton is a mixed media artist in Spokane, Washington. Through collage, vibrancy and portraiture, Tracy examines Black American identity and melding literary imagery with visual art. An eclectic assortment of media and materials are incorporated into her work often including acrylic, oil pastel, ink, feathers, beads, magazine clippings, bubble wrap, scrapbook paper, nylon cord and found objects. Several of her works have been part of public art projects including four pieces acquired by the Washington Arts Commission and Spokane Public Library for their permanent public art collections.
Q+A
Grand Image: How did you develop your style?
TPC: I started out primarily doing portraiture using acrylic paint on canvas, but my style evolved after I took a community mixed media class. That experience unlocked something in me — I fell in love with layering different materials and textures. My background as a writer also plays a big role in my artistic process. Literature has always inspired me, and my work often serves as a visual response to the stories and poetry that move me.
Grand Image: Where are you from and how is that reflected in your work?
TPC: I was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. Some of my work is deeply personal, focusing on my family’s legacy — particularly the women in my family who have passed on but left behind stories of courage, creativity and boldness. They continue to shape my artistic voice.
Grand Image: How has your relationship with art changed the way you view the world?
TPC: Honestly, I don’t know how to see the world any other way. I’ve always moved through life with the perspective of an artist. I notice the layers, the textures, the hidden narratives in everyday life. Art isn’t just something I do — it’s how I exist.
Grand Image: What was the inspiration behind your new pieces with Grand Image?
TPC: These pieces are part of a series called Beyond the Page, Beyond the Canvas. It’s a collection of vibrant mixed media works that serve as visual responses to the writings of Black literary giants like Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni, Ntozake Shange, Sapphire, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Toni Morrison. Each piece is a dialogue between visual art and literature, bringing these powerful narratives to life in a different way.
Grand Image: Your work uses a lot of found and upcycled objects. Why do you feel called to those materials?
TPC: There’s something powerful about giving discarded or overlooked materials new life. Found objects carry their own history, and when incorporated into my work, they add depth and a sense of storytelling. Using upcycled materials also feels like an act of preservation — honoring the past while creating something new.
Grand Image: In your artist statement, you mention melding the concepts of literary imagery with the Black American identity. Can you speak more deeply on this?
TPC: Literature has always been a part of my creative DNA. I’m drawn to themes of resilience, identity and legacy — elements that are woven throughout Black storytelling. Toni Morrison’s lush, layered narratives often find their way into my work, as well as the rhythm and emotional depth of poets like Nikki Giovanni and Ntozake Shange. I approach my art the way a writer constructs a story — layer by layer, with symbols, metaphors and emotion built into the composition.
Grand Image: What is your current source of inspiration?
TPC: Right now, I’m brainstorming a new piece to explore the themes of identity, time, legacy and survival. It is mostly inspired by Charmaine Wilkerson’s 2018 novel, Black Cake, which beautifully weaves together generations of family history and cultural heritage.
Grand Image: What about capturing reflections in your water prints speaks to you? Is it purely for the dynamic compositions or is there an emotional inspiration/curiosity?
TPC: I push myself through it by doing timed creative challenges. One of my go-to exercises is giving myself just 15 minutes to gather materials and then only an hour to create something. It forces me to trust my instincts and break through hesitation. During the pandemic, I challenged myself to create a collage a day for 30 days, and some of my best work came out of that.
Grand Image: What advice would you give someone starting out as an artist?
TPC: Don’t get discouraged by rejection — it’s just part of the process. Keep creating, keep putting yourself out there, and find the people and spaces that truly appreciate your work. Most importantly, trust your intuition. That’s your artistic voice speaking, and it’s what makes your work uniquely yours. Show up authentically — no one else can replicate that.