Heather Ahtone facts for kids

heather ahtone is a leader in the museum world. She is the Director of Curatorial Affairs at the First Americans Museum. This means she helps decide what art and history goes into the museum's exhibits. She is also a member of the Chickasaw Nation.

Her Journey and Education

Heather Ahtone is part of the Chickasaw Nation. She also has family ties to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). She earned a degree there in 1993. Later, she went to the University of Oklahoma (OU). She earned both her master's degree and her PhD from OU.

What She Does

Before her current role, Ahtone worked at the IAIA. She also worked at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA).

In 2007, she started doing research at the University of Oklahoma. At the same time, she taught art history classes. From 2012 to 2018, she was a special curator at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. This museum is also part of the University of Oklahoma.

In 2018, she became a senior curator at the First Americans Museum. This museum is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She helped plan the museum from the beginning. Her job includes creating exciting exhibitions. She also manages museum publications. Plus, she helps coordinate important research projects.

Her Writings

Heather Ahtone has written for many journals. These include American Indian Horizons and Wíčazo Ša Review. She has also written for and helped create many museum catalogs. Some of these include OKLA HOMMA and WINIKO: Life of an Object. She also contributed to books like Warhol and the West.

Awards and Recognitions

In 2007, Oklahoma Magazine recognized Heather Ahtone. They named her one of their "40 Under 40" honorees. This award celebrates young leaders.

Exhibitions She Curated

Heather Ahtone has helped create many interesting art shows. Here are a few examples:

• 2020: Re/Convening: Native Arts of Oklahoma. This show was at the Hardesty Arts Center in Tulsa.
• 2017: Photo/Synthesis with Will Wilson. This exhibit was at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.
• 2016: From the belly of our being art by and about Native creation. This show was at the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art.
• 2015: Enter the Matrix: Indigenous Printmakers. This exhibit was at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.
• 2013: Hopituy: Hopi Art from the Permanent Collection. This show was also at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.
• 2012: James T. Bialac Native American Art Collection: Selected Works. This was another exhibit at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

See also

• James Pepper Henry