ARTIST STATEMENT

I grew up in a home immersed with my different Native cultures and languages of the Diné (Navajo), the Sac & Fox, and Prairie Band Potawatomi. My drawings and paintings depict my experiences from my everyday life. My pieces have an illustrative and narrative quality with them as I bridge the traditional Native subjects with modern contemporary styles. I utilize patterns and designs that were passed down from both sides of my family from Diné/Navajo textiles, and woodland ribbon work and beadwork. The reference photos I use are from family or experiences, and I combine this with the Native designs. In some of my pieces I incorporate traditional native words or phrases in the artwork or in the title.

I use oil paint, pen & ink, markers, watercolor, typography, digital, and sound to share my visual experiences and knowledge of my native traditions and culture. I am influenced by artists like Baje Whitethorne Sr and his way of creating bright vibrant pieces that depict Diné life, as well as artist like T C Cannon who created pieces based on Native people of his day and combined traditional with modern. I am inspired by Japanese Manga/Anime and American Comics in the way these narrative art forms create a unique visual to tell a story to their viewers. These styles lend themselves in retelling my stories and experiences in my life.

I work with old and new in various ways to create a bridge for viewers to see these traditions differently in a visual way. I want to invite the viewer to be a part of my world and see the traditions the way I see them in my everyday life. I want my artwork to reach out and connect with others; to let them know we may be different, but to know we are all human beings. This is what it looks like to be a Native in America and in Oklahoma today.

ARTIST RESUME

EDUCATION

2016 BFA, Oklahoma State University
2013 AA, Seminole State College

EXHIBITIONS

2023 the universe is you Exhibition, Oklahoma Hall of Fame Gaylord-Pickens Museum, OKC, OK

2023 52nd Annual Trail of Tears Art Show & Sale, Tahlequah, OK
2023 Momentum OKC 2023, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, OKC, OK
2022 Comics As Art, Literati Press Bookstore, Paseo Arts District, OKC, OK
2022 Heartwork: Artistry by Modern First American Women, Exhibit C Gallery, OKC, OK
2022 51st Annual Trail of Tears Art Show & Sale, Tahlequah, OK
2022 This is Place 2022, Community Zine, Little Axe, OK
2022 The March Show: Home, Paseo Arts and Creativity Center, Oklahoma, OK
2022 Momentum OKC 2022, Oklahoma, OK
2022 Artist of the Month, Neff Brewing, Tulsa, OK
2021 Speak: Speak While You Can, Seminole Nation Museum, Wewoka, OK
2021 Round Table Artist of the Month: Culture Hub, We The People Consulting Firm, OKC, OK
2021 EMERGENCE Online Exhibition, Tulsa Community College, Tulsa, OK
2021 Elevate Momentum, Spotlight Artist, 21c Museum Hotel, OKC, OK
2021 Momentum Spotlight Artist OKC 2021, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, OKC, OK
2020 Speak: Speak While You Can, Living Arts of Tulsa, OK
2020 Azhwakwa: Contemporary Anishinaabe Art, Jacobson House Native Art Center, Norman, OK
2020 Re/Convening Native Arts in Oklahoma, Ahha Gallery, Tulsa, OK
2020 Momentum OKC 2020, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, OKC, OK
2020 OVAC Concept Exhibition, Ahha Gallery, Tulsa, OK
2020 Solo Exhibition Living on the Native Oklahoma Reservation, TAC Gallery, Tulsa, OK
2019 Solo Exhibition 2019, Jacobson House Native Art Center, Norman, OK
2019 Arts Trek 2019 Exhibition, Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee, OK
2019 Momentum OKC 2019, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition OVAC, OKC, OK
2019 Stillwater Art Guild’s Spring Show, Stillwater Community Center, OK
2019 Solo Exhibition, Brewers Union Co., Oklahoma City, OK
2018 Solo Exhibition Artwork by Amber DuBoise-Shepherd, Studio112 And A Half and The Gathering Place, Shawnee, OK
2018 Solo Exhibition Tradition Through Modern Eyes, Southern Plains Indian Museum, Anadarko, OK
2018 Solo Exhibition 2018, Main Street Event Center, Norman, OK
2018 Unframed Exhibition 2018, Studio 112 And A Half, Shawnee, OK
2017 Momentum OKC 2017, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition OVAC, OKC, OK
2017 Grand Opening Exhibition 2017, Studio 112 And A Half, Shawnee, OK
2016 Annual Juried Student Exhibition 2016, Gardiner Art Gallery, Stillwater, OK
2016 Fourth Annual Student Union Art Exhibition, Student Union Allied Arts, Stillwater, OK
2016 Senior Studio Capstone Exhibition, Gardiner Art Gallery, Stillwater, OK
2013 College Art Show and Contest, Seminole Arts Council, Seminole, OK

AWARDS

2023 Rising Star Award, Oklahoma State University, College of Arts & Science, Stillwater, OK

2023 Honorable Mention, Paintings, 52nd Annual Trail of Tears Art Show & Sale
2022 Honorable Mention, Graphics, 51st Annual Trail of Tears Art Show & Sale
2021 Native American Female Art and Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020-2021 Booklet, Virtual IMAGEN Network
2021 Grand Prize, Virtual IMAGEN Network
2021 Runner Up, Virtual IMAGEN Network
2019 Best of Show Overall, Cushing Native Fest, Cushing, OK
2019 First Place in Watercolor, Stillwater Art Guild Springs Show 2019, Stillwater, OK
2018 First Place, Second Place, Judges Choice Award from Dana Tiger, Cushing Native Fest 2018, Cushing, OK
2018 Red Earth Emerging Artist Award, Red Earth Festival 2018, OKC, OK
2018 Third Place, Stillwater Arts Festival 2018, Stillwater, OK
2017 First Place, Native American Heritage Festival 2017, Cushing, OK
2016 Best of Show, Native American Heritage Festival 2016, Cushing, OK
2016 Third Place, Annual Juried Student Exhibition 2016, Stillwater, OK
2016 Honorable Mention, Oklahoma State Research Week, Stillwater, OK
2013 Best of Show Color Category Seminole Arts Council, Seminole, OK
2013 Best of Show Black and White Category, Seminole Arts Council, Seminole, OK

CURATED EXHIBITIONS

2022 Tkenagen Mnowabmenagwet: The Beauty of Indigenous Cradleboards,

April 23, 2022 - June 19, 2022, at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, with artwork loaned from The Museum of the Red River

2022 The MGMoA, High School Juried Art Exhibition 2022

March 2022, at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art

2021 The MGMoA, High School Juried Art Exhibition 2021

March 2021, at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art

ART MARKETS

2023 Fine Art Vendor, Santa Fe Indian Market, NM (3rd Year)

2022 Fine Art Vendor, Cherokee Art Market, Catoosa, OK
2021 Red Earth, Shawnee, OK
2020 Red Earth, Shawnee, OK
2019 Fine Art Vendor, Cherokee Art Market, Catoosa, OK
2019 Fine Art Vendor, Santa Fe Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM (2nd Year)
2019 Fine Art Vendor, Artesian Arts Festival, Sulphur, OK
2018 Fine Art Vendor, Cushing Native Fest, Cushing, OK
2018 Fine Art Vendor, Santa Fe Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM (1st Year)
2018 Fine Art Vendor, Firelake Firelight Hot Air Balloon Festival, Shawnee, OK
2018 Fine Art Vendor, Red Earth Festival, OKC, OK
2018 Fine Art Vendor, Stillwater Arts Festival, Stillwater, OK
2017 Fine Art Vendor, Jacobson House of Indian Art, Norman, OK
2017 Fine Art Vendor, Sac and Fox Our Language Festival, Celebrating Algonquin Language and Culture, Stroud, OK
2017 Fine Art Vendor, Indian Territory Art Fair, Jenks, OK
2017 Fine Art Vendor, Cushing Native American Heritage Festival, Cushing, OK
2017 Fine Art Vendor, Firelake Firelight Hot Air Balloon Festival, Shawnee, OK