Oscar Howe facts for kids

Oscar Howe (born May 13, 1915 – died October 7, 1983) was a famous Yanktonai Dakota artist from South Dakota. His Dakota name was Mazuha Hokshina, which means "Trader Boy". He was known for his unique paintings made with special paints called casein and tempera. Oscar Howe changed Native American art and inspired many artists who came after him. His art is known for its bright colors, lively movement, and clear lines.

Early Life and Learning

Oscar Howe was born in 1915 in Joe Creek, South Dakota. This was on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation. He was from a family of important Dakota chiefs.

School Days

When he was young, Oscar went to the Pierre Indian School in South Dakota. This was a boarding school for Native American children. His artistic talent was noticed early on. From 1933 to 1938, he studied art at the Studio of Santa Fe Indian School. This school had a special art program run by Dorothy Dunn.

In 1940, Oscar Howe was sent to the Fort Sill Indian Art Center in Oklahoma. He learned how to paint large murals there. He also attended Bacone College, where he studied with other future artists.

College and War Service

After working for some years, Oscar Howe joined the military. He served overseas during World War II. After the war, he used the GI Bill to go to college. He earned his first degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1952. He also taught art there. Later, he got his master's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1954.

While serving in Germany during World War II, Oscar met Heidi Hampel. They married after he returned to the United States in 1945. In 1948, they had a daughter named Inge Dawn.

Artistic Journey

Oscar Howe's early paintings looked like other art from the Santa Fe Indian School. But soon, he created his own special style. He started with traditional Sioux "straight line" painting. This style came from old hide and ledger paintings. He added a Native American art style called Tohokmu, which means "spider web." His art has been compared to Cubism, but he said his work was based on Lakota ideas. He wanted his art to show the real life of his tribal culture today.

Working as an Artist

During the 1930s, a tough time called the Great Depression, Oscar Howe worked for the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This was a government program that helped people find jobs. He painted murals for buildings in South Dakota. These included the Mobridge municipal auditorium and the dome of the Carnegie Library in Mitchell, South Dakota.

From 1948 to 1971, he designed panels for the famous Corn Palace in Mitchell. In 1957, Oscar Howe became an Art Professor at the University of South Dakota. He taught there until 1983.

Changing Native American Art

Many art experts say Oscar Howe helped change Native American art. In 1958, a museum called the Philbrook Museum did not want to show his art. They said it was not "traditional" enough.

Oscar Howe wrote a strong letter to protest this. He asked, "Are we to be held back forever with one phase of Indian painting that is the most common way? Are we to be herded like a bunch of sheep, with no right for individualism...?" His protest helped other artists. It showed that Native American art could be modern and abstract, not just traditional.

Over his 41-year career, Oscar Howe won many awards. His art was shown all over the world, including Paris, France and London, England. He had more than 50 solo art shows.

Awards and Recognition

Oscar Howe received many honors for his amazing artwork:

• In 1960, he was named the Artist Laureate of South Dakota. This means he was recognized as the state's top artist.
• In 1966, he won the Waite Phillips trophy. This award was for his great contributions to American Indian art.
• In 1973, he was the first person to receive the South Dakota Governor's Award for Creative Achievement.
• In 1971, he traveled to nine countries as a special lecturer for the United States Department of State.

Places Honoring Oscar Howe

• Two art galleries are named after him: the Oscar Howe Art Gallery at the Dakota Discovery Museum in Mitchell, and the Oscar Howe Gallery at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
• An elementary school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is named after him.
• The Oscar Howe Memorial Association at the University of South Dakota works to promote Native American art. They also sponsor a yearly lecture in his honor.
• From March to September 2022, a special exhibit of his work was shown at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City.