Native American Artists Resource Collection

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Artist Information - Detailed View

Name

Norman Akers

Heritage

Osage

Gender

male

Dates

Lifespan

1958-

Date Note

birth date October 25, 1958

Birthplace

Fairfax

Oklahoma

Specialty / Medium

painting

oil painting

mural

print

serigraph

lithograph

artistic collaboration

teaching

External Remarks

Artist’s work represented in the online Masterworks Arts and Artists Series of the Heard Museum.

Artist's file in Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives, Heard Museum.

Artist represented in the Native American Artists Collection (RC62) of the Heard Museum Archives.

Artist’s physical folder is filed alphabetically in the Native American Artists Resource Collection under the following name:

Akers, Norman

Artist's work is represented in the object collection of the Heard Museum

Exhibits

Stories from the Land: Indigenous Voices Connecting Within the Great Plains. Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and the Mingenback Art Gallery. Lindsborg, Kansas. February 11, 2019 – March 15, 2019. Note: co-curated by Jean Merz Edwards and America Meredith; cohosted by the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and First American Art Magazine. Participating artists include Norman Akers, Matthew Bearden, Kelly Church, Chase Kahwinhut Earles, Michael Elizondo Jr., Anita Fields, Sharron Ahtone Harjo, April Holder, Matt Jarvis, Linda Eben Jones, Linda Lomahaftewa, Chris Pappan, Melissa Melero-Moose, Tony Tiger, Jodi Webster, and Micah Wesley.
Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Bentonville, Arkansas. October 6, 2018 - January 7, 2019. Note: accompanied by an exhibition catalog.
Personal Journeys: American Indian Landscapes. Heard Museum. Phoenix, AZ. (02/28/2016)
An Evening Redness in the West. Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. Santa Fe, New Mexico. (08/21/2015 - 12/31/2015)
Heartland Reverberations. Spencer Museum of Art. University of Kansas. Lawrence, KS. (10/15/2011 - 01/15/2012)
Personal Journeys: American Indian Landscapes. Heard Museum North. Scottsdale, AZ. (10/22/2009 - 03/14/2010)
Into the Now, From Then. Chiaroscuro Contemporary Art. Santa Fe, NM. (08/14/2009 - 09/12/2009)
Without Limits. Chiaroscuro Contemporary Art. Santa Fe, NM. (08/15/2008 - 09/13/2008)
Paintings by Norman Akers. Lawrence Arts Center. Lawrence, KS. (09/07/2007 - 09/09/2007)
Walk in Beauty: Discovering American Indian Art. Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University. Ithaca, New York. March 31, 2007 - July 8, 2007. Note: organized by Malcolm Whyte and Andrew C. Weislogel. Accompanied by an exhibition catalog.
Unlimited Boundaries: Dichotomy of Place in Contemporary Native American Art. The Albuquerque Museum. Albuquerque, NM. (01/28/2007 - 04/15/2007)
Berlin Gallery. Heard Museum. Phoenix, AZ. (01/05/2007)
Diversions. Gary Farmer Gallery of Contemporary Art. Santa Fe, NM. (11/09/2006 - 12/31/2006)
Miner's Canary. The Center for Contemporary Arts. Santa Fe, NM. (08/18/2005 - 10/01/2005)
Visual Power: 21st Century Native American Artists/Intellectuals. Cultural Programs Division, United States Department of the State. 2005. Note: travelling exhibition curated by Phoebe Farris; exhibit was designed in a poster format with each poster featuring the individual artist, one example of their work, and an artist statement. Featured artists include Nadema Agard, Norman Akers, George Longfish, Gail Tremblay, Duane Slick, Edgar Heap of Birds, Joe Fedderson, Rose Powhatan, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Kay WalkingStick, Carm Little Turtle, and Phoebe Farris.
Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture. Artrain USA. Traveling exhibit. (2004 - 2007)
The Art of Community: IAIA Faculty and Staff Exhibition. Institute of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM. (02/14/2003 - 05/26/2003)
So Fine! Masterworks of Fine Art from the Heard Museum. Heard Museum. Phoenix, AZ. (11/02/2002 - 03/09/2003)
Art in 2 Worlds: The Native American Fine Art Invitational 1983-1997. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. Norman, OK. (09/23/2002 - 01/26/2003)
Rewritings: New Paintings from Native America. Artfit Exhibition Space. Phoenix, AZ. (02/15/2002 - 04/06/2002)
Native American Artists/Scholars: Speaking for Ourselves in the 21st Century. American Indian Comunity House Gallery. New York, New York. January 10, 2002 - February 22, 2003. Note: guest curated by Phoebe Farris; featured artists include Nadema Agard, Norman Akers, George Longfish, Gail Tremblay, Duane Slick and Edgar Heap of Birds.
Norman Akers: Elk, Butterflies, and Trees. Carl Gorman Museum. University of California, Davis. Davis, CA. (01/12/2001 - 02/16/2001)
Who Stole the Tee Pee? George Gustav Heye Center, National Museum of the American Indian. New York, New York. October 1, 2000 - January 21, 2001. Note: accompanied by an exhibition catalog.
Allegory + Process. Helix Fine Arts. Santa Fe, NM. (08/18/2000 - 08/31/2000)
The Element Show. Helix Fine Arts. Santa Fe, NM. (2000)
Paintings. The Gallery. East Central University. Ada, OK. (2000)
Norman Akers: Paintings. Gardiner Art Gallery. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, OK. (08/16/1999 - 09/15/1999)
Art in 2 Worlds: The Native American Fine Arts Invitational 1983-1997. Heard Museum. Phoenix, AZ. (01/23/1999 - 10/31/1999)
Oklahoma Painting and Drawing Biennial V. City Arts Center. Oklahoma City, OK. (1999)
Link: 22 Painters. Jan Cicero Gallery. Chicago, IL. (08/22/1998)
From the Earth XIII. American Indian Contemporary Arts. San Francisco, CA. (1997)
New Art from Native America. Center Gallery, Bucknell University. Lewisburg, PA. (01/11/1997 - 02/23/1997)
Flora and Fauna. Jan Cicero Gallery. Chicago, IL. (1997)
Oklahoma Indian Art Competition. Philbrook Art Museum. Tulsa, OK. (1997)
Beyond the 95th Meridian: Indian Territory. Alexander Hogue Gallery. University of Tulsa. Tulsa, OK. (1996)
Native Streams. (1996) Traveling exhibit planned for the following venues:
Turman Art Gallery, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, 1996;
Jan Cicero Gallery, Chicago, IL, 1/12-2/24/1996.
Gilcrease Native American Invitational and Masters Exhibition. Gilcrease Museum. Tulsa, OK. (10/18/1995 - 01/02/1996)
Contemporary Native American Prints. Goshen College Art Gallery. Goshen, IN. (02/19/1995 - 03/31/1995)
Contrasts. Jan Cicero Gallery. Chicago, IL. (02/17/1995 - 03/18/1995)
From the Red Earth. IAIA Oklahoma Alumni. Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. Santa Fe, NM. (1995)
1994 Eiteljorg Invitational: New Art of the West 4. Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Indianapolis, IN. (11/19/1994 - 01/08/1995)
6th Native American Fine Arts Invitational. Heard Museum. Phoenix, AZ. (09/24/1994 - 10/01/1995)
Summer Group Show. Jan Cicero Gallery. Chicago, IL. (1994)
The Roots. American Indian Community House Gallery. New York, NY. (1994)
Pathology of Symbols. (1993) Traveling exhibit planned for the following venues:
I Space, Chicago, IL, 2/19-3/20/1993;
Living Arts of Tulsa, Myers Gallery, Tulsa, OK, 1/14-2/17/1994.
Without Boundaries. (1992) Traveling exhibit planned for the following venues:
Steensland Art Museum, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, 1992;
Midwest Museum of American Art, Elkhart, IN, (02/19/1992 - 02/17/1994).
68th Annual Faculty Exhibition. Krannert Art Museum. University of Illinois. Chicago, IL. (1992)
Summer Group Show. Jan Cicero Gallery. Chicago, IL. (1992)
Norman Akers: Paintings and Glass. Thesis Exhibition. Gallery Nine. Urbana, IL. (08/04/1991 - 08/10/1991)
67th Annual Faculty Exhibition. Krannert Art Museum. Champaign-Urbana, IL. (1991)
Local Aesthetic 3: Champaign-Urbana. University Galleries. Illinois State University. Bloomington-Normal, IL. (1991)
MFA Exhibition. Krannert Art Museum. Champaign-Urbana, IL. 1991
Mending the Circle. Beacon Street Gallery. Chicago, IL. 1991
Native American Art Exhibit. College of Veterinarian Medicine. Champaign-Urbana, IL. 1991
Spiritual Visions: A Liturgical Exhibition. Northern Indiana Arts Association. Munster, IN. 1990
Perception of the Other. Peace Museum. Maurice Spertus Museum of Judaica. Chicago, IL. 1990
Big Ten: Painting at the Graduate Level. Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Milwaukee, WI. 1990
Red Cloud Indian Art Show. Heritage Center. Pine Ridge, SD. 1988
Impressions of the Southwest. Tribal Gallery. Los Angeles, CA. 1988
First Quadrennial Indian Students and Alumni Fine Arts Exhibit. University of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM. 1988
New West. Pensacola Museum of Fine Arts. Pensacola, FL. 1988
Art Works 1987. Holland Hall Middle School. Tulsa, Oklahoma. 1987
Scottsdale Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Scottsdale, AZ. 1987
Paintings by Norman Akers, Ceramics by Randall Chitto. Southern Plains Indian Museum and Crafts Center. Anadarko, OK. 1986 (10/05/1986 - 12/03/1986)
Third Annual Arts Competition. Oklahoma Arts Workshop. Tulsa, OK. 1986
Contemporary Native American Artists. Governor's Gallery. State Capitol. Santa Fe, NM. 1986
Lubbock Arts Festival. Lubbock, TX. 1986
Artist of the Month. Gentle Tsi Zhu American Art Gallery. Pawhuska, OK. 1986
Native American Invitational. C. G. Rein Galleries. Santa Fe, NM. 1985 (07/15/1985 - 09/15/1985)
San Juan College Selects. San Juan College. Farmington, NM. 1985
Quest of a New Generation. Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity. Norman, OK. 1985
Institute of American Indian Arts. Governor's Gallery. State Capitol. Santa Fe, NM. 1985
Inter-Tribal Art Exhibit. Pembroke State University. Pembroke, NC. 1985
Artist of the Month. Gentle Tsi Zhu American Art Gallery. Pawhuska, OK. 1985
Inaugural Exhibit. PO AE PI Emergence Place for the Arts. Santa Fe, NM. 1984
III Contemporary Native Americans. Armory for the Arts. Santa Fe, NM. 1984
Selections from the Permanent Collection. Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. Santa Fe, NM. 1984
Works by Norman Akers. Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. Santa Fe, NM. 1984
Visions of the Earth. Native American Rights Fund Benefit Art Show. Boulder, CO. 1983
Works from the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. Stables Art Center. Taos, NM. 1983
Graduation Exhibit. Charlotte Crosby Kemper Gallery. Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, MO. 1982

Heard Markets

2001 Heard Museum Guild Indian Market & Fair. Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. March 3-4, 2001.

Fairs and Markets

1988 Santa Fe Indian Market. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1988.
1987 Santa Fe Indian Market. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1987.
1986 Santa Fe Indian Market. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1986.
1985 Santa Fe Indian Market. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1985.
1984 Santa Fe Indian Market. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1984.

Awards

Joan Mitchell Foundation. New York, NY. Painter-Sculptor Grant. (1999)
Oklahoma Painting and Drawing Biennial V. Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. Oklahoma City, OK. Merit Award. (1999)
University of Illinois. Champaign-Urbana, IL. Graduate Fellowship Award 1988-1989. (1988)
1988 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification III - Paintings, drawings and prints (hand pulled), Division C - Paintings, any style, Category 1701- Oils: Third Place. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1988.
Scottsdale Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Scottsdale, AZ. First Place. (04/1987)
1987 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification III - Paintings, drawings and prints (hand pulled): Second Place. Third Place. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1987.
1985 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification III - Paintings, drawings and prints (hand pulled): First Place. Third Place. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1985.
1984 Santa Fe Indian Market, Classification III - Paintings, drawings and prints (hand pulled), Division B - Prints (hand pulled), Category 1604 - Other: First Place. Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 1984.

Publications

Found 37 record(s)

Citation	Pages	Publication Date	Artist Citation Notes	Website
. "Art More Than Indian". Art-Talk, August-September 1985. 1985.	35	1985	Newspaper article.
. "The 6th Native American Fine Arts Invitational". Summer, 1994. Phoenix: Earthsong.	unpaginated
. "Third Thursday-Visiting Artists Presentations with Norman Akers and Paul Anthony Smith". March 29, 2012. gardneredge.com.	unpaginated			View
. Contemporary Native American Prints: Feb. 19-March 31, 1995. Goshen, Ind.: Goshen College. 1995.	4-5, 9, 22	1995	Catalog of an exhibition
. Land/Art New Mexico. Santa Fe: Radius Books. 2009.	unknown	2009
. Native Streams. Terre Haute, Ind.: Indiana State University. 1996.	unknown	1996	Catalog of an exhibition
. Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Artrain USA. 2004.	35, 72	2004	Catalog of an exhibition
. New Art of the West 4. Indianapolis: Eiteljorg Museum of the American Indians and Western Art. 1995.	14, 16-17, 60	1995	Catalog of an exhibition
. New Native Art Criticism: Manifestations. Santa Fe, N.M.: Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. 2011.	76-77	2011
. Paintings by Norman Akers, Ceramics by Randall Chitto: An Exhibition October 5-December 3, 1986. Anadarko, Okla.: Southern Plains Indian Museum and Crafts Center. 1986.	unpaginated	1986	Brochure for an exhibition
. The Art of Community: IAIA Faculty & Staff Exhibition 2003. Santa Fe, N.M.: Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. 2003.	3	2003	Catalog of an exhibition
. Unlimited Boundaries: Dichotomy of Place in Contemporary Native American Art. Albuquerque: The Albuquerque Museum. 2007.	9-15, 74	2007	Catalog of an exhibition
Akers, Norman. Norman Akers. URL: http://normanakers.com/home.html. 2016.		2016	Norman Aker's website (viewed June 5, 2016)	View
Archuleta, Margaret. "Art in 2 Worlds: the Native American Fine Art Invitational, 1983-1997". American Indian Art Magazine, vol. 24, no. 2 (spring 1999). 1999 .	34	1999	Presents an overview of the Native American fine art invitational shows that have been held at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, over the last 15 years, suggesting that these shows have been important not only to the artists involved but in defining Native art to the wider public.
Archuleta, Margaret (author, curator) and Craig Smith (photographer). ~Art in 2 Worlds: the Native American Fine Art Invitational 1983-1997. Phoenix, Arizona: Heard Museum. 1999.	10	1999	Catalog of an exhibition. Documents the 15 year history of a series of juried, fine art exhibits at the Heard Museum; during the period 1983-1999, the exhibits have appeared under various names, Innovations: New Expressions in Native American Art ([1st]: 1983), Biennial Native American Fine Arts Invitational (2nd-5th: 1985-1992), and Native American Fine Arts Invitational (6th: 1994-1995), and Native Fine Art Invitational (7th: 1997-1998).
Archuleta, Margaret (curator). 6th Native American Fine Arts Invitational: September 24,1994-October 1, 1995. Phoenix, Arizona: Heard Museum. 1994.	front cover, 4, 6-7, 18, 24	1994	Catalog of an exhibition
Arnold, John. "Governor's Gallery Goes American Indian". Sunday, July 28, 1985. Albuquerque Journal.	unknown		Newspaper article. Arts section.
Atterberry, Gisele. "Gallery Nine Exhibit Offers Frenetic Art". Sunday, August 4, 1991. Urbana, Ill.: The News-Gazette.	unknown		Newspaper article
Barker, Elizabeth. "Honoring the Osage". School Arts, vol. 122, no. 3 (November 2022). 2022.	11	2022
Bell, David. "Quality Marks Exhibition of Indian Artist's Work". Thursday, August 14, 1986. Albuquerque, N.M.: Journal North. 1986.	unknown	1986	Newspaper article
Besaw, Mindy N., Candice Hopkins, and Manuela Well-Off-Man. Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. 2018.	21, 136-137, 188, 192	2018	Catalog of an exhibition held at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, October 6, 2018-January 7, 2019. Includes works in the exhibition and index.
Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and First American Art Magazine (hosts). "[Exhibition advertisement] 'Stories from the Land: Indigenous Voices Connecting within the Great Plains'". First American Art Magazine, issue no. 22 (spring 2019). 2019.	104	2019	Includes half-page color reproduction of Norman Akers' 2018 lithograph "Little House Effect". \| Exhibition held through March 15, 2019 at two locations: Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and the Mingenback Art Gallery, Lindsborg, Kansas. Features the work of Norman Akers, Matthew Bearden, Kelly Church, Chase Kahwinhut Earles, Michael Elizondo Jr., Anita Fields, Sharron Ahtone Harjo, April Holder, Matt Jarvis, Linda Eben Jones, Linda Lomahaftewa, Chris Pappan, Melissa Melero-Moose, Tony Tiger, Jodi Webster, and Micah Wesley.
Coe, Ralph T., Irene Gordon (editor) and Bobby Hansson (photographer). Lost and Found Traditions: Native American Art 1965-1985. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press. 1986.	25, 33	1986	Co-published by: New York, New York: American Federation of Arts. "AFA exhibition 83-41, circulated June 1986-December 1988."
Farris, Phoebe. "Visual Power: 21st Century Native American Artists/Intellectuals". American Studies, vol. 46, no. 3-4 (fall/winter 2005). 2005.	251, 257	2005	Article simultaneously appears in the continuation, Indigenous Studies Today: an International Journal, for issue 1 (fall 2005/spring 2006); and in the monograph Indigeneity at the Crossroads of American Studies as a contribution to an edited work. Includes bibliographical references.
Lebow, Edward. "Running Against the Heard: Contemporary Indian Art is a Bust at Museum Shows". New Times (Phoenix, Arizona), April 15-21, 1999. 1999.	67	1999	Newspaper article.
Lester, Patrick D. ~The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters. Tulsa, Oklahoma: SIR Publications. 1995.	8	1995	Includes tribal index and bibliographical references.
Lockyer, Jon. "Norman Akers, Shuvinai Ashoona, Naomi Bebo, Andrea Carlson, Death Convention Singers, Jeffrey Gibson, Duane Linklater, Scott E. Jones, Virgil Ortiz & Rose Simpson, and Joseph Tisiga: an 'Evening Redness in the West,' Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Aug. 21-Dec. 31, 2015". C Magazine, 128 (winter 2016). 2016.	57-58	2016
Matuz, Roger (editor). ~St. James Guide to Native North American Artists. Detroit, Michigan: St. James Press. 1997.	6-8	1997
Nahwooksy, Fred and Richard Hill, Sr. (editors). Who Stole the Tee Pee?. Phoenix, Arizona: Atlatl. 2000.	60, 82	2000	Catalog of an exhibition, held at the George Gustav Heye Center, National Museum of the American Indian, New York, New York, October 1, 2000-January 21, 2001; includes list of artists, contributing writers, and exhibition object list.
Paget, Mindie. "Painter Pushes Boundaries of Native Art". Thursday, September 6, 2007. LJWorld.com.	unpaginated		www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/sep/06/painter_pushes_boundaries_native_art/	View
Revard, Carter. An Eagle Nation. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. 1993.	front cover	1993
Roth, Michael. "Artist Says Painting is a Performance". August 15, 1985. Santa Fe: The New Mexican.	unknown		Newspaper article. In Artist of the Sun section.
Rozzi, Jennifer C. "Rice Krispies to Mixed Media: American Indian Artists Showcase Heritage". October 5, 1994. Indian Country Today.	B6
WalkingStick, Kay and Ann E. Marshall. So Fine! Masterworks of Fine Art from the Heard Museum. Phoenix, Arizona: Heard Museum. 2001.	20-21	2001	Catalog of an exhibition
Warrior, Robert A. "Warriors Around the Fire". v. 4, Fall, 1990. Native Peoples.	52
Whyte, Malcolm and Andrew C. Weislogel (organizers). Walk in Beauty: Discovering American Indian Art: American Indian Paintings and Sculpture from the Collection of Malcolm and Karen Whyte. Ithaca, New York: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University. 2007.	40, 43, 52	2007	Catalog of an exhibition organized by Malcolm Whyte and Andrew C. Weislogel for the Herbert F. Johnson Museum at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, March 31, 2007-July 8, 2007. Exhibition is dedicated to Harry Fonseca (1946-2006).
Wyckoff, Lydia (editor). ~Visions and Voices: Native American Painting from the Philbrook Museum of Art. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Philbrook Museum of Art. 1996.	49	1996	Preface by Marcia Y. Manhart; foreword by Jeanne Snodgrass King; contributions by Ruthe Blalock Jones, Marla Redcorn, and Andrea Rogers-Henry. Includes bibliographical references and index.

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Native American Artists Resource Collection Online