benjamin harjo JR.: from here to there

June 11 - September 7, 2024

A renowned visual artist, and an Oklahoma State University alum, Benjamin Harjo Jr. (Absentee Shawnee/Seminole, 1945–2023) is a beloved household name for many in Oklahoma and beyond. Many knew him for his artistic ways and were charmed by his humor and generosity. “He readily shared his passion for art and creativity with others–Native, non-Natives, kids, adults, artists, collectors, and innocent bystanders.” (America Meredith (Cherokee Nation))

Born in Clovis, NM in 1945 with his family moving to Oklahoma soon after, Harjo found the kindling for his lifelong artistic passion in comic strips and animation. He entered his formal artistic training as an 18-year-old student at the recently opened Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, where he found his love for printmaking. Harjo enrolled at OSU just before he was drafted into the US Army in 1969. After serving for almost two years, he returned to OSU, earned his BFA in 1974, and began his career as an artist and mentor.

Working primarily with gouache, pen and ink, and a variety of printmaking methods, Harjo also ventured into sculpture, jewelry, and other three-dimensional forms. He relied on color and line to create art that spoke to the continuum of his cultures and creativity at large. Skilled in a range of materials and techniques, Harjo filled his work with an emotional breadth. “It is this openness to interpretation, an artistic elasticity, that makes Harjo’s work accessible and why he was not just successful within the market but why he has had his work featured in many public forums.” (Ashley Holland, PhD. (Cherokee Nation)) 

On view at the OSU Museum of Art from June 11 through September 7, 2024, benjamin harjo JR.: from here to there features approximately 86 original works spanning the length of his career, with artworks dating from 1979 to 2023. A closing reception will be held on September 6 from 5-7 PM.

An integral component of this project is the partnership with the First Americans Museum. A forthcoming monograph featuring the life and legacy of Benjamin Harjo Jr. will be available for purchase. Included in the monograph will be contributions from America Meredith (Cherokee Nation), Ashley Holland, Ph.D. (Cherokee Nation), Ken Williams, Jr. (Northern Arapaho Tribe/Seneca), Laura Da’ (Shawnee), Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes [Cheyenne]/Muscogee [Hodulgee]), Jackie Sevier (Northern Arapaho Tribe), and heather ahtone, Ph.D. (Choctaw/Chickasaw Nation), who is serving as the editor. The monograph aims to honor and celebrate a life well lived.