Bio

Early
Childhood

Theresa Angela Taylor is an abstract expressionist, an
author, children's book illustrator and visual art visionary. She uses a mix
medium of acrylic, charcoal and dry media to get across her socially conscious
expressions of contemporary folk and cubism art. As a second-generation Afro
Cuban artist, she seeks to honor the legacy of her father, and grandfather.
Born in Harlem, New York City, Angela started drawing and painting at the age
of five. She was introduced to the world of art by her father Earl Drayton who
taught her how to paint and draw who was the neighborhoods’ veteran street
artist and local muralist. Theresa's grandfather, Clarence (bad boy) Palmer was
an accomplished vocalist and musician. Who sang alongside the famous jazz band
the Palmer brothers. They performed with jazz legend Cab Calloway in his famous
Cotton Club during The Harlem Renaissance. Clarence's life and legacy gave Theresa
Angela the rhythm and courage to teach and produce art and share with the world
the rich history of great African American creativity. Her father Earl and
mother Ynes both instilled within her a love and appreciation for family
personal expression and cultural pride through the lens of showing the historic
struggles and triumphs of her people in America. One major lesson she was
taught as a child was that “life as a gift, not a burden.”

Professional Achievements

Despite having dyslexia, Theresa graduated from The
Laurinburg Industrial Institute Boarding School, in North Carolina. She later attended
and graduated from The Art Institute in Washington, DC of which she received a bachelor’s
degree in graphic design and fine Art. While working as an Office Graphic
Designer for many years Theresa Angela worked hard honoring her craft making
many original paintings while simultaneously studying from the old masters such
as: Kara Walker, Fath Ringgold, Jacob Lawrence and Pablo Picasso. She
started a business called Draytons Arts, LLC to start a children camp to teach
the importance of being creative.   After years of development, The New York City
Harlem Arts Alliance made her a recipient of the Up-and-coming artist award in
2011. In 2021 she received the Individual Artist Fellowship award for Folk Art
Visual Arts from the Delaware Division of the Art award at the same year
received and not to mention she is a Domestic Violence Advocate Award winner.
Theresa's Angelas’ artwork is and was displayed in several art galleries and
museums in the northeast region of the United States. This includes The Biggs
Museum under The Dover Delaware Art League, The Grand Opera theater in
Wilmington, Delaware, and The Riverside Church in Harlem, New York.  The Cambridge Art Center in Cambridge,
Maryland, and an art gallery in Soho, New York City. She is a member of several
art galleries, both the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Mispillion Art League
which she helps operate.

Future Legacy

Today, now living in Dover, Delaware, Theresa Angela is
always finding new ways to teach and positively influence young people. Theresa
currently commissions paintings for private clients. Art is how she
communicates to the world, through festivals, exhibitions, international and
domestic galleries, keeping a spiritual base and teaching private lessons to
children and adults she serves others. She also advocates justice through art
in the prison system by doing free art classes in homeless shelters. Presently,
she is writing a book to help change people's courses in life through art
inspiration. Theresa is a visual contemporary artist who is guided by her
angel, her mother Ynes “Palmer” King Drayton and the many other great Black
Woman and Black men who paved the way to help her see the beauty of art and life.
Jacob Lawrence, Kara Walker, Faith Ringgold, Jim Carey, and so many artists who
contributed to the Black experience for baby boomers. Theresa seeks to continue
to honor the gift that was given to her by God, her father, her mother and her grandfather
along with her two sons and eight grandchildren and by showing men, women and
children that our service to God and others is fulfilled when we "create
from within."

Portfolio: