At our showroom in Montrose, we think about art as something that lives with you over time. It’s not just there to fill a wall. It shapes how a space feels. It invites you to slow down, to notice more, and to stay a little longer.
That’s what drew us to Tamara Dea.
Her work is now on view at Native Citizen, and it brings a quiet depth into the showroom that you don’t fully take in all at once.
Where It All Began
Tamara’s connection to art started early, in a way that feels instinctive and grounded in nature.
As a child, she spent time running barefoot through the woods, paying attention to the details most people overlook. The way light filtered through the trees. The textures of the ground. Even the small, unexpected things like insects or imperfect natural forms held meaning.
She wasn’t just observing. She was trying to hold onto those moments. To share them in some way.
That early perspective still shapes her work today. There’s a sense that nothing is too ordinary to be worth noticing. Even things that might feel rough or overlooked can carry a kind of quiet beauty.
A Thoughtful, Honest Process
Her work begins with film photography, which already brings a slower, more intentional pace to the process.
From there, she builds a large body of images, often 70 to 80 at a time. Then she begins editing, carefully narrowing them down. Each image becomes a decision. Some stay. Many don’t.
What makes her process especially compelling is how she treats the ones that don’t make it.
Instead of setting them aside, she crosses them out. She acknowledges them. Then, using a vintage East German typewriter, she writes out her thoughts that are often critical, sometimes questioning, about why those images didn’t work for her.
But her work doesn’t stop at self-critique.
As Tamara shares, many of the written words are also about what is right, good, and beautiful in herself, in the work, and in the world around her. The pieces hold both perspectives at once.
She describes it as a balance: a constant movement between ego and spirit. Between the self-critical voice and a more grounded, expansive understanding.
That tension is what gives her work its energy that feels human, honest, and complete.
When you look at her work, it almost feels like you’re stepping into that internal dialogue. There’s a sense of discovery, like you’re piecing together meaning as you go.
Layering Image, Text, and Reflection
The final compositions are built as collages on canvas, combining black-and-white film photography with typed text and layered textures.
Some surfaces are reflective, almost mirror-like, which subtly brings you into the work itself. As you move, the piece shifts. You catch glimpses of yourself within it.
Tamara often describes her work as reflective, contemplative, and layered. Those qualities show up not just visually, but emotionally. There’s depth in how the images and words interact, and how the work continues to reveal itself over time.
A Message to Carry With You
At the center of Tamara’s work is a perspective she hopes viewers take with them:
“What we perceive, we believe. What we believe, we create. What we create, we experience. So it’s all about the choice in our perception of ourselves, other selves, and the world around us.”
Her work gently invites you to reconsider how you see yourself and the everyday moments around you.
Visit Native Citizen
Seeing Tamara Dea’s work in person makes all the difference. You can also follow her on Instagram @thetamaradea.
If you’re nearby, we invite you to visit Native Citizen and spend some time with her work in person. The more time you give it, the more it gives back.
