lance Straughn

Chickasaw

Born and raised in the Pickens District of the Chickasaw Nation, Mr. Straughn gained an appreciation for the Native American culture at an early age. He gained first-hand experience in Native American traditions attending stomp dances with his Chickasaw grandmother, an original Chickasaw Enrollee. He has called on the memories of these experiences in creating his art.
A self-taught artist, he started developing his talent at an early age, drawing on anything he could find, and using the native clay to make small figures for toys. While living in New Mexico, he fell in love with southwest art and developed his technique painting portraits of the Pueblo Indians.

His sculptures and paintings have won awards at several competitions including SEASAM, Five Civilized Tribes Museum, and the Goddard Center.
Always trying to broaden his skills, he has studied sculpting under Jesús Moroles, 2008 National Medal of Arts Award Winner, and painting under Stefan Baumann.