Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds

(American | Cheyenne | Arapaho, born 1954)

Native American artist Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds (Cheyenne and Arapaho) creates conceptual artworks that explore Indigenous identity and experience. He is an advocate for Indigenous communities worldwide, focusing on social justice and personal freedom. His artworks include drawings, paintings, prints, works in glass, and sculptures.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, Heap of Birds is of Cheyenne and Arapaho heritage. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. He pursued graduate studies in painting at the Royal College of Art in London, England. Heap of Birds' artworks are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), NYC; Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC; Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC; British Museum, London, England; and many more. Heap of Birds is Professor Emeritus in the Native American Studies Department at the University of Oklahoma. His seminars explore contemporary Native American art issues within the visual arts, film, and museums.