Tracey studied drawing and painting at The Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for four years. He also split his studies at OCAD exploring printmaking and other various artistic disciplines like wood and metal design. In addition, Mr. Anthony studied animation at Sheridan College in Oakville for a semester. Although the program at Sheridan was excellent the environs of OCAD drew the artist back to Toronto to finish his schooling. Tracey has original works in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, The Collection of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, and The Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford, Ontario.

Tracey’s mother is Mississauga (Ojibway) from the New Credit of the Mississaugas First Nations reserve and his father was Delaware (Lenni Lenape) from the Six Nations reserve in Ontario, Canada. In his artwork, Tracey incorporates Ojibway, Delaware, and Iroquoian influences in conjunction with many mixed media. (Source: visionartworks.ca)

Artist's Statement

Mixed media pieces on canvas, wood, and other support materials form the basis of my artwork. Training and exploration in drawing, painting, and printmaking meld to expose my present way of creating.The need to explore these various mediums is equalled by my need to explore my native heritage.My imagery is native, contemporary, personal, and unique.

The majority of the creations are painted with acrylics, however, oil paint is occasionally employed. Printmaking is also integral to my art with editions in Lithography, Intaglio, Serigraphy, and Relief processes.

The mixed media pieces are a culmination of my explorations in acrylic and oil painting, as well as my experiences with the various printmaking techniques. In addition, I recycle and photocopy my own work and apply these to the paintings. These works are in various mediums including charcoal, oil pastel, conte, and soft pastels. Then to further the texture and visual interest I draw on top of the artworks with oil sticks.

Glue, gel mediums, nails, and staples are utilized to secure the mixed media pieces to canvas and wood. Discovering other unique materials like resin epoxy, wire, tar, and string in the art pieces is not unusual. The use of all these materials enables me to create unique and original constructions.

I am descended from a Delaware father from the Six Nations reserve and a Mississauga mother from the New Credit reserve in Ontario. These histories in combination with the mixed media works explore identity and society. The works blend elements from oral history, cultural stereotypes, social dysfunction, and pop. With a multi-colored palette on a multitude of surfaces and found objects Indian symbolism is melded with modern ideology. The works expose the supernatural and the fantastic by blurring the line between reality and imagination.

In my creations I make use of Iroquoian and Ojibway history and mythology, yet I make a special effort to explore my Delaware roots. The search for my history is brought to life in my paintings by incorporating the Delaware language into some of the pieces. The words act as an aesthetic but also create and recognize a distinction between the histories that have culminated in my own creation.

Dualism also plays an essential role in my creative process. There is good and evil within all of us and the pieces expose these traits and the struggle that life can be. The search for balance that we undertake as a result of our decisions, will affect individuals, family, traditions, and society. My work positions the viewer as a voyeur and participant in a journey of self-reflection.

In the end, my artwork is a surrealistic journey of Contemporary life with past history as support. It includes the ties to the land, spirituality, community, politics, and social values and reveals a clear, colourful connection between what is personal and communal.