Artwork copyright Jesse Cooday. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1986.

For Velda Cooday Onibokum, 1984

Jesse Cooday
American Tlingit (born 1955)

Location: Washington State University, Pullman

About the Artwork

For Velda Cooday Onibokum is part of Tlingit (Native Alaskan) artist Jesse Cooday's series of overlay photographs. It features a photographic portrait combined with the image of a Tlingit mask. This artwork is part of Beyond Blue Mountains, a collection that was curated by late Tlingit (Native Alaskan) artist Jim Schoppert. It presents the work of Native American artists of diverse heritage, ideas, materials, and styles. The collection takes an in-depth look at the artists’ unique voices and interpretations of tradition.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State University.

About the Artist

Jesse Cooday (Tlingit) creates photographs and mixed media artworks that explore identity, narrative, and traditions of the Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Born and raised in Alaska, Cooday left after high school to study photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is of Tlingit (Native Alaskan) heritage.