1934 - 2006

Valjean McCarty Hessing was a Choctaw artist who mainly produced works in what is known as the Bacone school style, or simply the Bacone style. The Bacone style, a regionally specific "flat" style of painting, is similar in certain ways to the Studio and Southern Plains styles. Woody Crumbo, Acee Blue Eagle and Fred Beaver rank among the most famous creators of Bacone style images.

Valjean McCarty Hessing (1934-2006) came up during a time when very few Native women were painting but managed to begin winning scholarships and awards at a very young age. She went on to have a very successful career. Her works are included in many prominent public and private collections around the country.