T.C. CANNON

- T.C. CANNON (PAI-DOUNG-A-DAY) -

Kiowa/Caddo, 1946–1978

T.C. Cannon was a trailblazing Native American artist of Kiowa and Caddo lineage. Thomas Wayne Cannon is acknowledged as the most sought-after Contemporary Native American artist of the 20th Century. His work is considered to be the Holy Grail in the field. The artist’s creative journey began early, influenced by his heritage and a passion for modern art, leading him to study at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Under renowned artist and instructor Fritz Scholder, Cannon thrived as an artist and was cherished among his peers. Cannon's work is distinguished by its vibrant use of color, bold compositions, and a fusion of traditional Native American symbolism with elements of pop art, fauvism and abstract expressionism. 

Aberbach Fine Art became Cannon’s exclusive art dealer. In their publication, T.C. Cannon Memorial Exhibit, Joachim Jean Aberbach wrote, “The Philosophies behind the work of both masters (Fritz Scholder and T.C. Cannon) were at opposite ends of the spectrum. Scholder saw himself primarily as a universal artist and painted what he found to be grotesque in the attempt of Indians to assimilate into an anglo society. Cannon, however, considered himself a descendant of the collective Indian history and created his own mythology and painted, with strict regard to authenticity and historic truth, the nobility and dignity present in even his most humble ancestor. Although each of them reached his goal from a different direction, both, by their genius in the use of color and technique and by their complete control over the composition, assured for themselves a place of honor in the future history of art.”

Tragically, T.C. Cannon’s life was cut short in a car accident in 1978 at the age of 31. Despite a brief career, the artist’s influence has been profound.

T.C. Cannon’s artistic contributions were recognized through various exhibitions, including a landmark show in 1972 titled “Two American Painters: Fritz Scholder and T.C. Cannon” at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the notable retrospective "T.C. Cannon: At the Edge of America," organized by the Peabody Essex Museum, which traveled to the National Museum of the American Indian and the Gilcrease Museum in 2018-2019. Cannon’s artworks are held in prominent collections including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Smithsonian Institution, the Peabody Essex Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the Heard Museum and the Philbrook Museum of Art.