Louie Gong facts for kids

Louie Gong (born August 8, 1974) is a Canadian American artist, activist, speaker, and business owner. He creates art that explores what it means to be Indigenous and to have a mixed background. His work also helps Native artists grow their businesses and leadership skills.

Early Life and Learning

Louie Gong was born in Ruskin, British Columbia. He is part Nooksack (a Native American group), Chinese, French, and Scottish. He grew up in Ruskin, B.C., and later in the Nooksack community in Washington State. His grandparents, father, and stepmother raised him.

Louie went to Western Washington University. He earned a master's degree in school counseling. He worked as a therapist helping children and families. He first helped young people from his own tribal community. Later, he became a school counselor. He also worked at the University of Washington and Muckleshoot Tribal College. Since 2012, Louie has been an independent artist and business owner.

Louie Gong's Work

Art and Business

Louie Gong started a company called Eighth Generation. Through this company, he combines traditional Coast Salish art with modern pop culture designs. He uses his art to talk about identity.

In 2014, he launched the Inspired Natives Project. Its motto is "Support Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired." This project helps people understand how to respect Native artists and their culture. It also helps new Native artists become successful business owners. His first partners in this project were Acoma Pueblo artist Michelle Lowden and Anishinaabe artist Sarah Agaton Howes.

Louie has worked with other companies too. In 2011, he designed a special boot called the "LG Gatherer" for Manitobah Mukluks. It was very popular and sold out quickly. He also created designs for Paul Frank Industries, which were used on bags, pillows, and blankets.

In 2012, Louie worked with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). They held workshops called "Design Yourself: IAMNMAI." These workshops used his customizable art toy, Mockups, to explore identity and mixed heritage. Native Max Magazine named Louie Gong one of the "Top 10 Inspirational Natives."

His art has been shown in many places. These include the Seattle Art Museum, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, and the DePaul Art Museum.

Speaking Up for Change

Louie Gong is also an activist. He speaks out about social and political issues that affect Native people and people with mixed backgrounds. His work has been featured in major news outlets like The New York Times and NBC Nightly News.

From 2007 to 2009, Louie was the board president of the Mavin Foundation. This group helps people learn about mixed-race individuals and families. He also helped create the Mixed Heritage Center.

In 2023, Washington Senator Patty Murray chose Louie Gong to join the US Senate's Curatorial Advisory Board. This board advises on art and historical items for the Senate.

Films Featuring His Work

Louie Gong's art and activism have been featured in films. UNRESERVED: the Work of Louie Gong is a film by Longhouse Media. It was shown at film festivals like Festival De Cannes and National Geographic's All Roads Film Festival. Another film, Schuhe Machen Leute, was a documentary made in Germany in 2013.

Louie was asked by costume designer Ruth Carter to design blankets for the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His blankets also appeared in the film Killers of the Flower Moon. Actress Lily Gladstone wore one of his blankets on the cover of British Vogue while promoting the movie.