Johnny Tiger, Jr.
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Johnny Tiger Jr. was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capitol of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. As a child Johnny traveled with his grandfather Coleman Lewis, a well known Baptist Missionary within the Creek Nation. While traveling Coleman would teach his grandson the history and legends of his people in the Muscogee language, their native tongue.
Although Johnny loved pin striping hot rods, ring fighting, he could not resist the calling to transfer and preserve the legends of his people onto paper, when Johnny paints a scene such as a tribal gathering, stomp dance, or medicine man healing the sick, it is from first hand experience. Largely unknown outside of Muskogee, Okla., Johnny's distinctive style and talent was apparent to anyone viewing his work, to take his love of art to the next level Johnny enrolled at Bacone College to study under the legendary Cheyenne master Walter Richard "Dick" West Sr., Johnny's classmates included David Williams, and Joan Hill. Winning numerous major art awards by the late 1970s he became a full time artist. After dominating the annual "competitive artist" category even sweeping the show winning five awards including the coveted "Governor's Award" Johnny was declared a master artist by the Five Civilized Tribes Museum of Muskogee, Oklahoma. The category of Master is a rare distinction sought and even "begged for" by some in the Indian art circle.
Unable to meet the demand of his art by collectors Johnny began having his artwork reproduced in limited and unlimited editions, some limited editions have quickly sold out, doubled and even tripled in value. Besides his prominence as a painter, Johnny is also a well known sculptor which has also taken many major awards, and has several bronze pieces "limited edition" in circulation. Having been given enormous talent, skill and charisma, Johnny enjoys sharing his techniques, and memories of this journey in the world of Indian Art to all who will listen.
