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The Art of Woody Big Bow exhibit opens
April 25
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An exhibit featuring works by Kiowa artist Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Big Bow is now on exhibit in the ONEOK, Inc. Gallery. Big Bow was born in Carnegie, Oklahoma, on January 29, 1914. He was the grandson of Kiowa chief Zepko-ette. Big Bow studied art at the University of Oklahoma under the instruction of Oscar B. Jacobson.
Big Bow is best known for the Thunderbird insignia he designed for Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Division. The exhibit includes sketches and other iterations of the 45th Infantry logo from the Oklahoma Historical Society’s collection.
Big Bow employed the narrative-based style of painting known as Flatstyle, which was popularized by Native American artists in the 20th century. Flatstyle emphasizes shape and contour by using limited shading and perspective. Examples of this technique painted by Big Bow are included in the exhibition.
Gouache painting, Woody Big Bow, c.1956 (2023.065.006, Triangle Heritage Museum Collection, OHS).
