Blackbear Bosin

Blackbear Bosin
Born
Francis Blackbear Bosin

(1921-06-05)June 5, 1921
Cyril, Oklahoma, United States
DiedAugust 9, 1980(1980-08-09) (aged 59)
Wichita, Kansas, United States
NationalityKiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma,[1] American
Other namesTsate Kongia
Occupation(s)Artist (sculptor, painter), Graphic Designer
Notable workKeeper of the Plains, 1968-1974
From Whence All Life, 1972
Wichita, My Son, 1965
Prairie Fire, 1955
Wind Spirit, 1955
AwardsNational American Indian Achievements Award, American Indian Art and Cultural Exchange, 1976
Certificate of Appreciation, American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, 1976
Distinguished Service Award, State of Kansas, 1977
Kansas Governor's Artist, 1977
Websiteblackbearbosin.com

Blackbear Bosin (June 5, 1921 – August 9, 1980) was a self-taught Kiowa[1]/Comanche sculptor, painter, and commercial artist. He is also known by his Kiowa name, Tsate Kongia, which means "black bear."

Bosin gained notoriety for his surreal and dynamic variations on the traditional Flatstyle painting of the Southern Plains Indians, and he add depth, motion, and drama to the genre while emphasizing symbolism.[2][3][4][5]

His works have been modern icons of Native American art,[6] and of his community (Wichita), county (Sedgwick County), state (Kansas) and region.[6][7][8][9][10]

  1. ^ a b "Painting". National Museum of the American Indian. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  2. ^ Wind Spirit, (tornado) (ca. 1955), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City (image of painting, with description of it and artist)
  3. ^ Henkes, Robert (1995). Native American Painters of the Twentieth Century: The Works of 61 Artists. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. p. 11.
  4. ^ Glaze, Michele Powers: "Art Gallery: Blackbear Bosin," July 13, 2022, Cowboys & Indians (magazine), (includes reproductions of Bosin paintings Prairie Fire, Reflections of Rainy Mountain, and Torches of the Soul Seekers.), retrieved December 3, 2022
  5. ^ Two Indians, by F. Blackbear Bosin, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, retrieved December 5, 2022
  6. ^ a b "Keeper of the Plains, Wichita," "8 Wonders of Kansas Overall," Kansas Sampler, retrieved December 3, 2022
  7. ^ "Keeper of the Plains," Arts and Cultural Services, City of Wichita, retrieved December 3, 2022
  8. ^ Official website of Sedgwick County, Kansas government, Sedgwick County, Kansas, with official seal depicting Bosin's Keeper of the Plains, retrieved December 3, 2022
  9. ^ "Proclamation" in "Minutes: Regular Meeting, Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners: May 19, 2004," Sedgwick County Commission, retrieved December 2, 2022
  10. ^ "Kansas Cultural Icons," January 18, 2019, Kansas Public Radio (includes photo of The Keeper of the Plains, and link to enlarged Wolf Creek logo), retrieved December 5, 2022