Tameca Cole

Artist Biography

My name is Tameca Cole, I’m 49 years old. I’m a lifelong resident of Birmingham, Alabama. Currently, I’m serving life on parole after serving approximately 26 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections. 

I went into the prison system at a young age, but always with a hopeful attitude that a better future awaited. Most of my time was spent going to trade-school to upgrade my job skills and reading. I signed up for a creative writing class sponsored by Auburn University and that’s when I found my purpose in life. Once I reconnected with my creative side I never looked back.

Art and writing allow me to address my personal demons in a way that doesn’t hurt others. It gives me an outlet to express how the cruelty of my incarceration, injustice, and experience with racism has affected me. It gives me the power to show other human beings how degrading it feels to be Black in America and still live under systemic racism. 

I consider my art to be an educator, a weapon, and a thought-provoking conversation about change. I would be grateful for any support that allows me to continue to elevate as an artist as well as a civil rights soldier. 

Artist Statement

My quest as an artist is to explore everything that I have internalized throughout my life. I need interactive therapy to address my personal demons, secrets, failures, and anger.