Robert Redbird

Robert Redbird Sr. (July 22, 1939 – March 5, 2016) was a Native American artist who painted in order to preserve and communicate the

Redbird was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1939.^[3] His grandparents on his father's side raised him from birth after his parents rejected him due to his suffering from epilepsy. His grandmother was of Hispanic descent and his grandfather of Kiowa descent. He was raised at his grandparents' farm in Gotebo, Oklahoma in Kiowa County. Redbird's grandfather, Monroe Tsatoke, was a member of the Kiowa Six, an important cohort of painters who popularized Southern Plains Flatstyle painting. Inspired by Tsatoke, At Redbird started practicing his own skills at eight years old. When Redbird was 16, he sold his first piece of artwork to a doctor in Carnegie, Oklahoma, and gave the proceeds to his grandmother for groceries.^[4]

Education

Redbird was sent to

Redbird's work features Kiowa culture, history, stories, and legends passed down to him by his grandfather and by William Tenedah (his wife's grandfather). Robert works in several media, including oil, acrylics, watercolor, gouache, pencil, pastel, pen & ink, and prints.^[6]

Humanitarian efforts

Redbird financially supported a summer camp for handicapped children when he lived in Scottsdale, Arizona. Redbird sold his paintings for these camps that would take the children on field trips and afford them experiences that they would not have otherwise. The most money he raised for the kids totaled $56,000, with contributions coming from all over.^[5]

Achievements and awards

Redbird has worked in many different capacities in his life. He has worked as a welder, mechanic, auto body repairman & painter, a

Further reading

• Brandenburg, John. "Notable Indian Artists' Work on Display". newsok.com. NewsOK. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
• Oklahoma Native Artists Oral History Project -- OSU Library