Now Representing Dolores Purdy

Dolores is a member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma located near Binger, Oklahoma. She also has Winnebago, German and Swedish ancestry. Her father was career Air Force and relocation became a big part of her childhood as well. However, a constant in her life was time spent with her family in Oklahoma. She remembers listening to many stories passed down and draws on those historical stories for inspiration for her art.

As a trained watercolorist it was her discovery of ledger art, and her immersion in its history, that found Dolores breaking gender barriers in this usually male-dominated genre. Nearly two decades ago, she began her research and found herself picking up color pencils and old ledger paper to bring a woman’s perspective to this male dominated art form commonly called “Warrior Art” or “Ledger Art”. Dolores’s work veers far from the usual imagery typically seen in most contemporary ledger art. The images can be humorous or serious while immersed in Native American heritage, iconography and pop-culture. Peter Maxx and the psychedelic pop-art movement has been an influence in her work as well as the art deco movement and Japanese textiles. Her imagery may represent bison hunters riding past colorful tipis, or bright Cadillacs racing across the page. Tongue-in-cheek humor, bright colors and vivid whimsical imagery is her way to stand out from the other ledger artists as well as honoring the ancestors.

She frequently presents her research and work at various universities and institutions. She is featured in a book titled Women and Ledger art written by Dr. Richard Pearce and published by the University of Arizona press.

Dolores is a boundary breaking artist who combines contemporary ideas with historical significance while maintaining cultural influences – Bryant Nagel Gallery

Artist statement – “Happy Art makes a Happy Home”