15 Facts About Archie Blackowl

Archie Blackowl was a Cheyenne painter from Oklahoma who played a pivotal role in mid-20th century Native American art.

Archie Blackowl was born in Custer County, Oklahoma, on November 23,1911.

Archie Blackowl's culture made him sensitive to natural textures, which created a traditional Indian school of painting.

In 1918 Archie Blackowl was placed into an Indian boarding school by the American government.

Archie Blackowl was a muralist and studio painter, who began painting actively and professionally in the early 1930s.

Archie Blackowl was commissioned to paint a mural in The Palmer House, a hotel in Chicago, Illinois.

Archie Blackowl had many occupations including teacher, juror at the Philbrook Indian annual, muralist, civil service employee, Walt Disney studio employee, industrial painter for the aircraft industry, and artist.

Archie Blackowl is generally considered to be one of the more important Oklahoma traditional painters.

Archie Blackowl's work captures the traditional Southern Plains culture and life.

Archie Blackowl was best known for his stylized dancers adorned with traditional regalia and lack of backgrounds, as well as works upon the unforgiving blackboard.

Archie Blackowl has inspired many contemporary artists across the United States.

Archie Blackowl's art is a legacy to which many young Native artists look to for information of tradition and technical skills.

Archie Blackowl was later a juror at the show and helped the Native American art scene by building a cultural bridge to the Native American people and art shows.

Archie Blackowl's works are included in such museum collections as the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, New Mexico, and the Sequoyah Research Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Archie Blackowl died on September 15,1992, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.