ARCHIE BLACKOWL

– ARCHIE BLACKOWL –

Cheyenne, 1911-1992

Archie Blackowl was a Cheyenne painter from Oklahoma who played a pivotal role in mid-20th century Native American art. He was born in Custer County, Oklahoma, on November 23, 1911 and died on September 15, 1992, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Blackowl was survived by ten children.

Blackowl is generally considered to be one of the important Oklahoma traditional painters. Blackowl's work captures the traditional Southern Plains culture and life. The paintings, generally in tempera or mixed media depict scenes of dancers or ceremonies in the Flat style of the Dorothy Dunn school or Bacone style of painting. Blackowl was best known for his stylized dancers adorned with traditional regalia and lack of backgrounds, as well as works upon the unforgiving blackboard. Blackowl's devotion to traditional style flat painting earned him the honor of Living Legend by Ralph Oliver in 1990.