About the Artist:
DeCora studied fine art and then illustration at Drexel Institute in Philadelphia. She took on custodial work to pay her tuition. At Drexel she was encouraged to make art dealing with her Native identity. This became the basis of her work in her professional life, but sadly not much of her work survives today.
In 1906 she accepted a position at Carlisle Indian School (a boarding school for Native children who were forced to attend in an effort to change their culture) to teach Native American Art, which represented an incredible shift as Native art was heavily discouraged during that time.
About the Artwork:
Despite being educated at a boarding school that devalued indigenous cultures, DeCora created sympathetic, humanizing depictions of Native peoples throughout her life’s work and advocated for the value of Native American art and design.
Working as a commercial artist, DeCora designed and illustrated many books and magazine covers with Native American subjects.
One of her most famous paintings depicts a Native boy in a boarding school uniform comforting another boy, a recent arrival to the school in Native dress, who covers his face while he weeps from homesickness.
DeCora created images that use both European painting traditions and traditional Native American designs.
DeCora studied fine art and then illustration at Drexel Institute in Philadelphia. She took on custodial work to pay her tuition. At Drexel she was encouraged to make art dealing with her Native identity. This became the basis of her work in her professional life, but sadly not much of her work survives today.
In 1906 she accepted a position at Carlisle Indian School (a boarding school for Native children who were forced to attend in an effort to change their culture) to teach Native American Art, which represented an incredible shift as Native art was heavily discouraged during that time.
About the Artwork:
Despite being educated at a boarding school that devalued indigenous cultures, DeCora created sympathetic, humanizing depictions of Native peoples throughout her life’s work and advocated for the value of Native American art and design.
Working as a commercial artist, DeCora designed and illustrated many books and magazine covers with Native American subjects.
One of her most famous paintings depicts a Native boy in a boarding school uniform comforting another boy, a recent arrival to the school in Native dress, who covers his face while he weeps from homesickness.
DeCora created images that use both European painting traditions and traditional Native American designs.
Sources:
https://www.aiga.org/diversity-inclusion-design-journeys-essay-angel-decora
http://www.winnebagotribe.com/index.php/about-us/attractions/angel-decora-memorial-museum-research-center
http://tfaoi.org/aa/4aa/4aa27a.htm
https://www.aiga.org/diversity-inclusion-design-journeys-essay-angel-decora
http://www.winnebagotribe.com/index.php/about-us/attractions/angel-decora-memorial-museum-research-center
http://tfaoi.org/aa/4aa/4aa27a.htm