Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme

Norman Teague: Love Reigns Supreme is part of In The Making, a documentary shorts series from American Masters and Firelight Media follows emerging cultural icons on their journeys to becoming masters of their artistic disciplines.

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Adewole A. Abioye’s director statement

For Norman Teague, it first starts with community. People and narrative are at the center of Teague’s work. A celebrated designer whose works – Sinmi Stool and Africana Chair – have been acquired by prestigious institutions around the world, Teague’s commitment to building community through design is his crowning hallmark. He views design as a mechanism to improve the material conditions of Black folk in urban centers. As the film team embarked on this journey to document Teague, we found him in early preparation for his most ambitious exhibition to date.

Teague’s exhibition, A Love Supreme was inspired by jazz icon John Coltrane and his seminal album of the same name. He sought to feature designers and artists of color in an exhibition space (McCormick House) designed by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Teague’s idea for a group show had been gestating for many years and with the invitation to create a new body of work at Elmhurst Art Museum, things began to crystallize. It was important for Teague to create and exhibit alongside his colleagues and other emerging voices in this historical moment where he was in dialogue with the past.

His gift of compassion and generosity extends to his design team that he works closely with. Teague makes it a point to give back to up-and-coming designers of color through his teaching and studio practice. His core group of assistant designers were key to the creation of the Anna and Frederick Douglass Pavilion erected in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Also known as Tetisi – Yoruba for listening – it is a space that honors two historical African American abolitionists and was formed to bring the community together to promote programmatic activities. Teague received a huge swell of support from many throughout the community who assisted on the installation of the pavilion.

They say don’t meet your heroes. I feel deeply grateful to have met one of my heroes. Having this opportunity to document Teague who I find to be an artist of the people has been a pivotal experience. Teague has a way of bringing people together through art and his design initiatives. Our film explores his process and the camaraderie among his team. I hope his story of community and design serves as inspiration to all who aspire for a deeper human experience.

More about Norman Teague

Teague is a Chicago-based designer and educator focused on projects and pedagogy that address the systematic complexity of urbanism and the culture of communities.  Specializing in custom furniture that delivers a personal touch to a specific user topped unique aesthetic detail; Teague’s past projects have included consumer products, public sculpture, performances, and specially designed retail spaces.  Working with common, locally sourced building materials and local fabricators to create objects and spaces that explore simplicity, honesty, cleverness and relates to the culture of the community.