Artist Statement
Histories on many spectrums—ancestral, artistic, material, personal, and cultural—fuel my practice.
My studio is a flux of mediums and objects in constant conversation with each other: A small original gouache painting gets printed on custom fabric, which goes into a mixed media collage, that informs a piece of wearable art, or adds to the composition of a new gouache painting. Nothing is off-limits to being repurposed and reimagined.
As a member of the Cherokee Nation, this process is a personal narrative of the Native American Diaspora. Indigenous peoples had to be inventive and purposeful with elements and resources as ancestors were removed from native homelands to new environments. This is not only instilled in my mind from native ancestry, but also from a rural Kansas upbringing.
Being a product of Cherokee, Scottish, Swiss-German, and other diaspora, I am, in the very makeup of my DNA, a collage of cultures, values, histories, and personal aesthetics. I react by collaging materials from my ancestors, contemporary community, and personal life experiences. Graphic design, fine art, and fiber are all woven into my ancestral tapestry the same way I weave in and out of mediums in my studio. Sometimes, literally weaving materials.
I illustrate personal narratives by inventing compositions driven by a theme or experience, translating them through the lens of abstracted patterns I’ve built out of my cultural research of Cherokee and other native arts. These personal illustrations are a hybrid of being culturally grounded, while also being far from native upbringing; a life influenced by various sources to the point of abstraction. There is a feel of beadwork or sewing, but the painting may contain neither. I view each piece I create as its own individual entity, yet all contributing to a visual language I am inventing. An aesthetic world that people of many cultural backgrounds can relate to or appreciate in some form.
Sometimes my compositions are cropped. These flow from me instinctively; yet, when I contemplate where it is coming from, I see my subconscious expressing core feelings that the people in my life, at any given time, only see one part of me. One part of my surroundings. One part of my heritage, upbringing, or expat experiences. There is not one individual in my world who has seen my life influences holistically, or even every house I’ve lived in. Cropped images feel like a cropping of a piece of culture- ambiguous but beautiful; informed by elements unseen. I am a woman who is constantly picking which cropped piece of my life I’m operating out of, while still trying to maintain them all and present myself to the world as a whole.
I desire my art to open conversations and be a starting point to discussing tribes, Native Americans past and present, and the many nuances of being descended from Native cultures in a world growing increasingly diverse in numerous ways with every generation. For myself, this also includes my time in Southeast Asia and friendships I’ve made globally.
Cultivating and presenting a joy of cultural differences, influences, and histories allows hope to exist for where we might go in regards to tribes, countries, and personal communities in the future.
CV
b. 1990, Fowler, Kansas
Lives and works in Peoria, Illinois.
Education
2021 • MFA, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
2012 • BA, summa cum laude, Graphic Design, Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2024 • (upcoming) Gardiner Gallery of Art, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
2023 • (upcoming) Trusler Gallery, Emporia Arts Center, Emporia, KS
2023 • (upcoming) Foster Art Gallery, First United Methodist Church, Peoria, IL
2023 • Joy Intwined, Contemporary Art Center, Peoria, IL
2022 • Gallery Homes Exhibition, Peoria Heights, IL
2021 • Intertwined: MFA Exhibition, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
2021 • Bound Together: Cultural Patterns, Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL
2020 • Heuser Gallery Exhibition, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
2020 • Artist of the Month Exhibition, Casa De Arte, Peoria, Illinois
2019 • Sacred, MA Thesis Show, Prairie Center of the Arts, Peoria, Illinois
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 • Fantastic Fibers 2022, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
2023 • 52nd Annual Trail of Tears Art Show and Sale, Cherokee National History Museum,
Tahlequah, OK
2023 • Tenuous Threads, Atlantic Gallery, New York City, NY
2022 • Small Matters, 437co Gallery, Colorado Mesa University, Junction City, CO
2022 • Spot on #3, D’art Gallery, Denver, CO
2022 • Still Here Still Native, Arts Council Fayetteville, Fayetteville, NC
2022 • 27th Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, Cherokee Cultural Center, Tahlequah, OK
2022 • Shape of the Environment, Arts + Literature Laboratory, Madison, WI
2022 • Drawn Exhibition, Indiana University Kokomo, Kokomo, IN
2022 • 64ARTS, Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL
2022 • Innovations in Printmaking and Mixed Media, D’art Gallery, Denver, CO
2022 • 10th Annual Bridgeport Art Center’s Art Competition, Chicago, IL
2022 • Fantastic Fibers 2022, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
2022 • New Appalachia, Vestige Concept Gallery, Pittsburg, PA
2022 • 51st Annual Trail of Tears Art Show and Sale, Cherokee National History Museum, Tahlequah, OK
2022 • Key of Dreams, Van Der Plas Gallery, New York City, NY
2022 • Excellence in Fibers, Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, NY
2022 • Midwest Issue #155, New American Paintings, Juried Exhibitions-in-Print
2022 • Excellence in Fibers VII, Fiber Art Now, juried exhibition in print, Winter Issue
2021 • State of Contemporary Drawing, Hilliard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2021 • Peoria Women Now, Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL
2021 • Sky Art Peoria Exhibition, Foster Art Gallery, Peoria First United Methodist Church, Peoria, IL
2021 • RSVP Exhibition, Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg, IL
2021 • Self Made, Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts, Peoria, IL
2021 • Seen but not Felt, Bradley University, Heuser Gallery, Peoria, IL
2020 • Carry Weight, Hold Light, Collaborative Installation Exhibition, Contemporary Art Center, Peoria, IL
2019 • This Is Me, Exhibit A Gallery, Peoria, IL
2019 • Member Show, Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL
2019 • 2019 Emerging Illinois Artists, McClean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL
2019 • TWOgether: A Group Exhibition, Jan Brandt Gallery, Bloomington, IL
2016 • Christmas Exhibition, Thai Christian Artists Collaborative, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2014 • 45th Annual Smoky Hill Art Exhibition, Hays Arts Council, Hays, KS
Public Art
2021 • Hello Peoria Building, Public Art, spool paintings placed within mural, Peoria, IL
2021 • Community Mural, Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair, “Illuminate” oil painting used for a public participation mural for event,
displayed in downtown Peoria permanently
Curatorial
2021 • Seen But Not Felt, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
2019 • Christopher Holbrook: His Own Private Circus, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
Awards/Grants
2022 • Honorable Mention, Spot on #3, juried by Doug Kacena, D’Art Gallery
Denver, Denver, CO
2022 • First Place Contemporary Basketry, “Clothed in Celestial Grace” ribbon
weaving, 27th Annual Cherokee Homecoming Show, Tahlequah, OK
2022 • Merit Award in Diverse Arts, for drawing, 27th Annual Cherokee
Homecoming Show, Tahlequah, OK
2022 • Operating Expenses Grant, Fiber Art Now Magazine
2022 • 1st Place Emerging Artist, 51st Annual Trail of Tears Art Show and
Sale, Tahlequah, OK
2021 • Sky Art Peoria, “Effervescent Connections” awarded a rotating billboard
around Peoria and East Peoria, Big Picture Peoria, Arts Partners, Peoria, IL
2021 • Vax to Get Back Campaign, Illinois Arts Alliance and Peoria Art Guild, chosen artist
for original artwork and representation of Peoria Area
2021 • Emerging Artist, tent awarded by Peoria Art Guild, Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair
2019 • Dean’s Award: Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts, 2019 Student Scholarship Expo,
Bradley College, Peoria, IL
2010 • Honorable Mention, Sandzen Memorial Gallery Juried Exhibition, Lindsborg, KS
Press/Media/Publications
2023 • Fiber Art Now, Excellence in Fibers VIII, juried exhibition in print, Winter 2023
2022 • New Visionary, Issue 4, two-page spread, October 2022
2022 • New American Paintings, Juried Exhibitions-in-Print, Midwest Issue #155
2022 • Fiber Art Now, Excellence in Fibers VII, juried exhibition
2021 • Featured artist for November, Soul City Fine Art & Photography,
https://soulcityfineartphotographyllc.com/f/featured-artist---hattie-lee , St. Louis, MO
2021 • Mae Gilliland Wright, The Worlds of Hattie Lee, Peoria Magazine, September,
https://www.peoriamagazines.com/pm/2021/sep/worlds-hattie-lee
2021 • Selected artist for Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair promotional materials and community mural
2021 • Lori Waxman, New City Art, 60wrd/min COVID Edition: Lee Robson Spence, Boom Bloom, Seen But Not Felt,
May 7, www.art.newcity.com
2021 • Lori Waxman, 60 WRD/MIN ART CRITIC, “Seen But Not Felt” Covid-19 exhibition review, April 28,
https://60wrdmin.org/artwork/4895267-SEEN-
2021 • Harry Croton, 25week.com, Local Nonprofits Team Up to Build Fruit Stands for Students in Local Schools, artwork on produce stand
featured in local news segment, June 25, https://week.com/2021/06/25/local-nonprofits-team-up-to-build-fruit-stands-for-students-in-
local-schools/?fbclid=IwAR3BiPvJcGgtKjxvGlzUuwefc8-Ebe9z2OzU_YlRaRT3jBbdEF7_LOq-Vs4
2021 • Sky Art Turns Seven, Peoria Magazine, June, https://www.peoriamagazines.com/pm/2021/jun/sky-art-turns-seven
2021 • Peoria TV Show, Bound Together: Cultural Patterns, solo exhibition at the Peoria Art Guild featured as set for an episode, Peoria, IL
2021 • Out and About Podcast, WCBU and Arts Partners of Central Illinois, NPR.org, podcast platforms, “The Peoria Art Guild Presents
Bound Together: Cultural Patterns”, April 2
2020 • Erin Buczynski, Demystifying the Gallery Experience, Peoria Magazine, February,
https://www.peoriamagazines.com/pm/2020/feb/demystifying-gallery-experience
2019 • The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, image reproduction, Collaboration painting with Heather Brammeier, promotion for Jan Brandt Gallery:
TWOgether exhibit, February 3
2019 • Broadside: Writers and Artists, Spring Edition, image reproduction of three paintings, Spring Edition, Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois
Lectures and Visiting Artist Invitations
2021 • Peoria Riverfront Museum, Virtual Art Club, Seen But Not Felt, an Exhibition at Bradley University Galleries, PRM YouTube channel, May 11
2021 • Exhibition presentation, Adv. Painting Class, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
2020 • Guest speaker and exhibition presentation, American Art History class, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
Commissions
2021 • Original painting on a wooden produce stand for Big Picture Peoria and Peoria Grown for a fresh fruit outreach at schools in Peoria
Other Professional Experience
2022 • Participated in an online Native American non-profit fundraiser by the Dreamcatcher Foundation, two
paintings for auction
2019 Collaboration with artist Eugene (Nana Ekow) Maison, resulting in collaborative work exhibited in his solo exhibits:
• Fragments at the Buchwald Center, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon, OH, 2019
• Historical Consequences- Knyame Maison, Collaborative piece, Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL, 2021