Artwork copyright Susan Stewart. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Wolf Chief, 1991

Susan Stewart
(American | Crow Tribe of Montana, born 1953)

Location: Starbuck School, Starbuck

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Wolf Chief is part of artist Susan Stewart's "Elk Dog" series of paintings and works on paper. This series explores the symbolism of horses and their influence and impact on Native American identity and culture. Stewart describes this piece as "a statement about adaptation, about survival, the survival of a culture that continues to thrive."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Lake Washington School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Susan Stewart is an artist and active member of the Crow Nation, based in Montana. She is a painter, printmaker, installation artist, performance artist, video artist, arts administrator, curator, and community activist. Her focus in all of these areas is life as a contemporary Native North American.

Susan Stewart was born in Livermore, Central California, where her family was placed as part of the American Indian Relocation Act for the purpose of assimilation. She grew up in California; Spokane, Eastern Washington; and Reno, Nevada. She studied at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Montana State University in Bozeman.