Chief Lady Bird facts for kids

Chief Lady Bird (also known as Nancy King) is an amazing artist, illustrator, and activist. She is from the Chippewa and Potawatomi nations. Her home communities are Rama First Nation and Moosedeer Point First Nation. Today, she lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Chief Lady Bird is her special spirit name, which is Ogimaakwebnes. She uses this name for her art. Her artwork often shows the experiences of Indigenous women. She wants to make sure their stories are seen and heard.

What Kind of Art Does Chief Lady Bird Make?

Chief Lady Bird is famous for many types of art. She creates big murals, which are paintings on walls. She also makes digital illustrations using computers. She draws pictures for children's books too! Her art helps bring Indigenous culture into public spaces in Toronto.

Where Can You See Her Art?

You can find Chief Lady Bird's murals all over Toronto. Some are on Queen Street West and near Beverley and D'Arcy Street. You can also see her work at places like Ravina Gardens and Underpass Park. She even painted a mural at Withrow Public School.

Her Digital Art and Books

Chief Lady Bird designed the Turtle Island emoji for Twitter. She made it for National Indigenous Peoples Day. She uses social media to connect with others. She helps organize online groups that talk about Indigenous issues.

In 2019, she illustrated a children's book called Nibi's Water Song. Sunshine Tenasco wrote the book. It was published by Scholastic Canada. A fun fact is that her own dog, Ludo, is a character in the book! People who reviewed the book said her drawings were "colourful and expressive."

Her art has also been in Chirp Magazine. She also created the cover art for the United Kingdom version of The Marrow Thieves. This is a popular book by Cherie Dimaline.

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Chief Lady Bird's art has been shown in many galleries. She has had her own shows and been part of group shows. Some places where her art has been displayed include the Gladstone Hotel and the Harbourfront Centre. In 2023, she created a mural called The South | Zhaawanong. The Art Gallery of Ontario asked her to make it. It is now in their Robert Harding Hall.

Her Education and Learning

Chief Lady Bird studied art at OCAD University. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She focused on drawing and painting. She also learned a lot about Indigenous Visual Culture. She says that her art combines what she learned from both areas of study.

Awards and Recognitions

Chief Lady Bird has received several awards for her amazing work.

• In 2017, she won the Leading Women Building Communities Recognition Award.
• In 2014, she received the Indspire Undergraduate Fine Arts Award.
• She was also nominated for the Ontario Arts Council Aboriginal Arts Award in 2016.