Bio

Onzie Deandre Norman (b. 1980) is a self-taught mixed media painter and wood sculptor based in Detroit, Michigan. With roots in carpentry dating back to high school, Onzie refined his craftsmanship at the Detroit Carpenters Apprenticeship School, graduating in 2003. This foundation would become pivotal in shaping his artistic voice.

In 2013, after experiencing a powerful vision, Onzie began to draw—an awakening that led him to experiment with painting on wood. He now constructs his own wooden canvases and works with a distinctive blend of materials, including paper, wood, spray paint, acrylic, and resin. Each piece he creates is a one-of-a-kind fusion of craft and creativity, honoring both the precision of construction and the spontaneity of expression.

 Onzie has work diligently towards building his art career, his work has been exhibited at Art Prize, the Bombay Artesian Series, National Afro-American Museum in Wilberforce, Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, Agora Essence Festival, Charles H. Wright Museum, Actors Theater in Louisville, Gallery in New York, Xavier University and The Dayton Art Institute. Onzie’s artwork is in many private collections and recently his work has been acquired by Don Tuski President of the College for Creative Studies, Bedrock Detroit, actor Charles Michael Davis, NFL linebacker Deandre Levy, Helene Gayle president of Spelman College and American journalist Stephen Henderson. In 2023 he was selected as the Gucci Changemaker, having his mural, “Botanical City” installed on the side of the Siren Hotel in Detroit, MI.

Artist Statement

I approach art with a dynamic and imaginative spirit, reinterpreting the world through layers of mixed media. My work blends paper, paint, collage, and wood to form distinct visual narratives. By hand-building wood canvases in varied shapes and scales, I create sculptural surfaces that invite experimentation. These custom foundations allow every work to become a physical extension of the ideas I’m exploring, evolving organically into forms that transcend conventional boundaries.

At the heart of my practice is a desire to explore and honor Black history, urban environments, still life, and cultural identity, especially through mixed media portraiture. These themes serve as a lens through which I examine and celebrate the richness of human experience. Ultimately, I see myself evolving as a visual interpreter of life, translator of stories, perspectives, and traditions.