DOLORES PURDY

Cado/Winnebago (Oklahoma)

Medium: Ledger Art

Dolores Purdy is a member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and Winnebago descent. She is a ledger artist who is recognized as one of the first women to work in ledger art, a medium historically dominated by male artists. Purdy follows the tradition of using antique pre-20th century cotton or linen paper and colored pencils while incorporating influences from the Art Deco era, Asian textiles, and the pop-art movement.

Her work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the Heard Museum, and the Hood Museum, among others. She has also received numerous awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market. Her contributions to ledger art have been featured in Southwest Art, Native American Art, Cowboys & Indians, and many other publications significant to the Native Art community.