Milwaukee collage artist layers memories from a volatile childhood

Tyanna Buie turned her childhood spent in foster care into an artistic exploration, using screen-printing and collage to reinterpret old photographs and memories. Wisconsin Public Television profiled Buie for its Wisconsin Life project. Video produced by Zac Schultz, shot by Wendy Woodard and Ryan Ward and edited by Wendy Woodard of Wisconsin Public Television

Tyanna Buie grew up with her father out of the picture. Her mother and other relatives were often in jail. With no adult relative able to care for her, Buie entered the foster care system at the age of 4.

Buie turned to art as an escape, but, with the transient nature of the foster care system, she was moved to a variety of foster homes, her art work thrown away with each move.

Buie’s childhood experiences inspired her to reinterpret old photographs and memories, using the techniques of screen-printing and collage. She’s now a popular Milwaukee artist and a lecturer at the Milwaukee Institute for Art and Design who uses her collage-style art to explore her past.

Local Beat is a weekly series on Art Beat that features arts and culture stories from PBS member stations around the nation.