Artist Bio
Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1974, Taurus Burns grew up in various cities as his father’s military career took the family to Kentucky, Germany, Virginia, and North Carolina before returning to Michigan in 1986. Further relocations in Michigan meant he would go on to attend three different high schools. In May 1992, amidst the turmoil of the LA Riots, Taurus graduated high school, grappling with the nation’s unrest while eager to find his purpose.
In 1997, Taurus began studying Life Drawing with Jon Onye Lockard (1932–2015) at Washtenaw Community College. Lockard, a celebrated Black portrait artist, illustrator, and muralist, became an influential mentor, inspiring Taurus to pursue art with a renewed purpose. In 1998, he moved to Detroit to attend the College for Creative Studies, focusing on oil painting and figurative art. Influenced by artists like Bob Thompson, Kerry James Marshall, and Philip Guston, his work explored societal challenges and racial identity.
Graduating in 2002 with a BFA and High Honors, Taurus became a vital part of Detroit's art scene, curating exhibits, jurying competitions (including the Scholastic Art Awards), mentoring and creating public art while continuing to develop a visual language addressing the complexities of interracial cooperation through his work.