Albert Harjo

Who is Albert Harjo?

Albert Harjo was born on September 25, 1937, deep within the Muscogee Nation in the rural area of Hanna, Oklahoma. He is fullblood Muscogee. Albert attended Jones Academy, Hartshorne, Oklahoma then later Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, just north of Ponca City, Oklahoma. After graduating from Chilocco, Albert enlisted and served in the United States Marine Corps.

Albert's subject matter derives from his own life experiences as well those of neighbors, friends and family. Albert paints in the very unforgiving style considered by most disciples of Native American art as traditional or Bacone style, as established by Southeast tribal artists active at Bacone College. There is no erasing or covering up. His paintings use colors and multiple contour lines to define figures and shapes, as opposed to three-dimensional perspective or shading. He works in tempera and watercolor.

He has shown his work at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, Red Earth, and the Creek Indian Council House and Museum, and the Philbrook Museum of Art. He has also contributed his art work for causes such as the Red Cross and Native American bone marrow recruitment. Albert's award-winning, traditional art can be found in museums, galleries and private collections throughout Eastern Oklahoma, United States and abroad.