Chris Pappan facts for kids

Chris Pappan, born in 1971, is a talented Native American artist. He is a member of the Kaw Nation. He also has family roots in the Osage and Cheyenne River Lakota tribes.

Chris Pappan's Early Life and Art Style

Chris Pappan was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He studied art at the Institute of American Indian Arts. He describes his art as "Lowbrow Native." His unique artwork is inspired by traditional ledger art.

What is Ledger Art?

Ledger art is a special style of drawing or painting. Native American artists created it on old ledger books or paper. These books were once used for keeping records. This art style became popular in the 1800s. It often shows scenes from daily life, battles, or spiritual stories.

Chris Pappan's Art Career and Exhibitions

Chris Pappan's art has been shown in many places. In 2011, he was part of an exhibition called Heartland Reverberations. This show was at the Spencer Museum of Art. The same year, he won the Discovery Fellowship from the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts. This award helped him continue his art.

In 2014, Chris Pappan was featured on the cover of Native Peoples magazine. He also received a Landmarks Fellowship. This allowed him to travel to Australia. There, he took part in a cultural exchange with Indigenous Australians. In 2015, he presented his work in a show called Account Past Due: Ledger Art & Beyond. This was at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts.

From 2016 to 2019, the Field Museum of Natural History held a special show. It was called Drawing on Tradition: Kanza Artist Chris Pappan. This exhibition featured his drawings and paintings. You can find his artwork in the permanent collections of the Spencer Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Native Art.

On February 22, 2021, a Google Doodle celebrated the 145th birthday of Zitkala-Sa. Chris Pappan was the artist who illustrated this special Google Doodle.