Nocona Burgess
Nocona Burgess
Nocona Burgess presents strikingly modern depictions of Indigenous men and women from various tribal Nations of North America. His paintings mix careful research, firsthand knowledge, and raw passion. By combining brightly colored shapes with crisply outlined facial features and traditional dress, Burgess explores the cultural context, life story, and identity of each sitter. In this way, the artist urges us to update our perceptions of Native people and consider the intriguing and often highly politicized place of Native American portraiture.
Burgess is a member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma. He is the son of a former tribal chief and the great-great-grandson of one of the most revered Native American leaders, Chief Quanah Parker. Burgess grew up surrounded by art. His father went to art school to focus on drawing and painting, and his grandmothers made quilts and beadwork from their own designs.
Nocona received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and a Masters in Art Education from the University of New Mexico. He was fascinated by how more traditional forms of Native art evolve into contemporary movements. This fascination came to define his focus, leading him to reinterpret traditionally inspired portraits with his own modern slant. It is the notion of the modern Indian that he seeks in his work and recognizes in himself.
By painting with vibrant pigments onto dark backgrounds Burgess has perfected a method that he describes as “painting outward”. This approach produces the richly contrasting colors of his distinctive canvases and gives his art a vivid depth. Burgess’ paintings inspire and educate through their unusual techniques and positive dialogues between past and present.
Painting for Burgess is a way of reaching out to others. He strives for an intimate connection with each subject, eager to know their characters. Through his paintings Burgess says thank you to his ancestors for their sacrifices in helping to make the contemporary Native identity what it is today.
Nocona Burgess’s paintings have received numerous awards and have been featured in many publications. He exhibits throughout the USA and beyond in Australia, England, South Africa, and Sweden. They can also be found in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, Bristol Museum – Bristol, England, American Museum – Bath, England, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture – Santa Fe, NM and many more.
Education
May 2014, Masters of Art Education, University of New Mexico
April 1999, Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha, OK
Major: Studio Painting/ Minor: Native American Art History
1992 – 1993, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM – Painting, Native American Art History
May 1991, Institute of American Indian Arts, Associates of Fine Arts
Collections
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Bristol, England
American Museum, Bath, England
Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, Lawton, OK
National Museum of American Indian, Washington D.C.
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Santa Fe, NM
Ellen Noel Art Museum, Odessa, TX
Publications
August 2018, New Mexico Magazine
May 2018, New Mexico Magazine
August 2015, Santa Fean Now Magazine
July 2015, Bristol Magazine
April 2014, Southwest Art Magazine
August 2013, Santa Fean Magazine
August 2013, THE Magazine, Santa Fe, NM
August 2012, Santa Fe Indian Market Guide
August 2012, Pasa Tiempo, New Mexican Newspaper
August 2012, Southwest Art Magazine
March 2011, Western Art Collector
June 2010, Gallery Walk, Cowboys and Indians Magazine
May 2008, Split Personalities Article, Southwest Art Magazine
August 2007, Painting featured in Quanah Parker article in Wild West Magazine
August 2006, Cover Artist, Santa Fean Magazine Indian Market Issue
August 2005, Artscapes Section of the New Mexico Magazine
June 2005, Five Emerging Artist Article in Santa Fean Magazine
March 2005, Photo featuring a portrait of Fritz Scholder in The New Mexican News Paper
December 2004, Featured Artist Article in Wild West Magazine
Awards
1st Place, SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, 2018
Honorable Mention, SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, 2018
2nd Place, SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, 2015
Honorable Mention, SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, 2014
Honorable Mention, Heard Indian Art Market, 2014
1st Place Painting, SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, 2008
3rd Place Water-based Painting, Eiteljorg Indian Market, 2007
1st Place Water-based Painting, Eiteljorg Indian Market, 2006
2nd Place Water-based Painting, Eiteljorg Indian Market, 2005
2nd Place Abstract Painting, SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, 2004
3rd Place Painting on Canvas, Red Earth Festival, 2001
2nd Place Drawing, American Indian Art Exposition, 1998
2nd Place Printmaking, Red Earth Festival, 1998
Departmental Painting & Printmaking Scholarship, University of New Mexico, 1992-1993
President’s Honor Roll, 1991
Kirsten Larson Memorial Scholarship, 1991
Dean’s Honor Roll, 1989-1991
Comanche Tribal Scholarship, 1991
1st in Local Area District Region, 3rd at Nationals Talent Competition Graphics & Painting Division, 1987
1st State Ladies’ Auxiliary, Daughters of the American Revolution, Oklahoma Competition, 1986
Competition, Exhibitions, and Art Shows
August 2003-2018, SWAIA Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM
January – May 2017, American Indian Cowboy, One Man Show – Ellen Noel Art Museum, Odessa, TX
August 2014 -2017 – One man show – Giacobbe Fritz Fine Art, Santa Fe
July 2015 – Nocona Burgess, One Man Show – Rainmaker Gallery, Bristol, UK
May 2005-2018, Native Treasures Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM
March 06’, 07’ and 09’- 14’, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Phoenix, AZ
November 2006-2014, SWAIA Winter Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM
November 2011 -2012, Autry Museum Indian Market, Los Angeles, CA
June 2006-2007 and 2013, Eiteljorg Indian Market, Indianapolis, IN
December 2011 National Museum of the American Indian Art Show, New York City, NY
June 2000 – 2003 and 2010, Red Earth Festival Art Show and Competition, Oklahoma City, OK
November 2010, Autry Museum Indian Market, Los Angeles, CA
July 2005-2007, Eight Northern Pueblo Art Market, San Juan Pueblo, NM
September 2007, Inward Significance – One Man Show at Museum of the Great Plains, Lawton, OK
May 2007, One Man Show, Gallery at 17 Peck, Providence, RI
Spring 2006, Painted Violin Project, New Mexico Symphony, Santa Fe, NM
Spring 2006, Painted chair for SWAIA fundraiser
January 2006, Nocona and Quanah Burgess – Barely Famous, Southern Plains Indian Museum, Anadarko, OK
October 2005, Santa Barbara Jewish Federation
October 2005, Comanche Identity, Jacobson House, Norman, OK
July 2005, Native American Heritage Art Exhibit, Fort Worth, TX
June 2005, Santa Fe Days on the Plaza, Carrollton, TX
January 2005, Some Like it Hot, City Arts Center, Oklahoma City, OK
July 2004, Pop Life: Youth Night, Mono Type Workshop, Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, Santa Fe, NM
June 2004, Museum of Man Indian Fair, San Diego, CA
May 2004, Jacobson House Indian Market, Norman, OK
January 2004, Fusion 04, City Arts Center, Oklahoma City, OK
August 2000-2003, Institute of American Indian Arts Museum Alumni Show and Sale, Santa Fe, NM
December 2002, Comanche Artist Show, Lawton, OK
March 2002, Commission for Santa Fe Children’s Museum Fundraiser, Santa Fe, NM
July 2001, Southwestern Indian Polytechnics Institute Permanent Collection Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM
May 2001, United States Department of Agriculture, Commission for Native American Heritage Month Poster, Albuquerque, NM
August 2000, Southwestern Indian Polytechnics Institute, Fundraiser for Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM
July 2000, Totem Magazine “They Called Us Indians” Touring Art Show; Holland, Germany, Belgium
August 1999, American Indian Art Exposition, Anadarko, OK
July 1999, Comanche Homecoming Art Show and Sale, Lawton, OK
March-May 1999, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma B.F.A. Graduation Show, Chickasha, OK
December 1998– January 1999, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Winter Show and Sale, Chickasha, OK
September 1998, Comanche Fair Art Show, Fort Sill, OK
August 1998, American Indian Art Exposition, Anadarko, OK
July 1998, Comanche Days Treaty Renewal Art Show Fredricksburgh, TX
June 1998, Quanah Parker Reunion Art Show, Quanah, TX
August 1996, 1996 Discover Native America Olympic Art Show, Atlanta, GA
March-May 1995, University of New Mexico Spring Art Show and Sale, Albuquerque, NM
November 1994, University of New Mexico Winter Art Show and Sale, Albuquerque, NM
September 1994, Harwood Art Center Art Show and Sale, Albuquerque, NM
March 1994, University of New Mexico Painters Show, Albuquerque, NM
January 1993, New Mexico State University Indian Art Display, Grants, NM
May 1991, Institute of American Indian Art A.F.A. Graduation Show, Santa Fe, NM
December 1990, Institute of American Indian Art Christmas Show and Sale, Santa Fe, NM
August 1990, One Man Show, West Gallery Design Center, Santa Fe, NM
May 1990, Institute of American Indian Art Spring Art Show and Sale, Santa Fe, NM
December 1988, University of Oklahoma Jim Thorpe House Art Show, Norman, OK
June – July 1988, Museum of the Great Plains Indian Art Show, Lawton, OK