Dana Tiger (born 1961) is a Muscogee artist of Seminole and Cherokee descent from Oklahoma. Her artwork focuses on portrayals of strong women. She uses art as a medium for activism and raising awareness. Tiger was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 2001.
Dana Irene Tiger was born in 1961 to Jerome Tiger[1] and Peggy[2] Richmond. Her father was a full blood Native American of Muskogee-Seminole heritage and her mother is a member of the Cherokee Nation.[3] Tiger's father died of an accidental gunshot wound when she was 5 years old and she was raised by her mother. To promote her father's work, keep his legacy alive, and be taken seriously as an art dealer, Tiger's mother ran the business pretending to be a man. Jerome's brother, Johnny Tiger Jr., acted as the family patriarch, told stories of their father to his children, and surrounded them with art.[2]
Tiger first began painting at age 24, after she left Oklahoma State University.[5] Dana was inspired by the legacy of her father, Jerome Tiger, an exemplary artist who revolutionized the portrayal of Native Americans through his unique art style.[6] Her themes of strong women grew out of personal experiences of discrimination and tragedy.[7] She uses art as a medium to empower women.[8] Dana's art is often centered around her sense of womanhood and the strength of those that surround her.[9] Characteristics of her paintings are resilient Native women depicted in both historical and contemporary leadership positions,[10] usually in watercolor or acrylic.[11]
Tiger often combines artwork and advocacy, promoting benefits for the AIDS Coalition for Indian Outreach, the American Cancer Society, the National Organization for Women, and the Ozark Literacy Council among others.[10] Native American health is a particular focus.[11] While promoting healing and growth through art, she is also a mother, sister, and grandmother.[12]
Tiger had planned to remain single and dedicate her life to art,[8] but when her brother was murdered in 1990 and her sister was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS two years later, her view of the world changed. She felt that she could honor her siblings by bringing new life into the world.[2] Tiger married Donnie Blair on 7 November 1992. They have two children: a daughter Christie, born 1 September 1993, named after her brother, and a son, Coleman Lisan, born 16 July 1995, named for her sister.[1] Both of her children are award-winning artists.[2]
In 1999, Tiger was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Soon after her diagnosis, Tiger's sister Lisa was also diagnosed with Parkinson's.[2]
In 2002, she founded a non-profit organization, Legacy Cultural Learning Community, to foster arts development for Native youth.[7]
Tiger's painting We Ride Again was chosen as the cover art for the 2006 Oklahoma Women's Almanac.[13]
A collection of Tiger's work was shown as a part of the Oklahoma Painters exhibition at the Grand Palais, Paris in 2011. She was one of 11 Native American artists who was selected to show at the exhibition.[14]
^ abcd"Dana Tiger Biography, box 1, folder 5". Tiger Family Collection. Special Collections and University Archives, Oklahoma State University Libraries.
