James Auchiah Art for Sale at Auction

Painter, b. 1906 - d. 1974

James Auchiah (1906–1974) was a Kiowa painter and one of the Kiowa Six from Oklahoma.

James Auchiah was born on 17 November 1906 in Oklahoma Territory, near present-day Meers and Medicine Park, Oklahoma. His Kiowa name was Tsekoyate, meaning "Big Bow". His father was Mark Auchiah, and his grandfathers were Chief Satanta and Red Tipi, a medicine man, bundle keeper and ledger artist, respectively.

Auchiah was a student in government schools, where he was not supported in learning about his Kiowas culture. In 1890 the tribe was forcibly not allowed by the white soldiers to perform the Sun Dance, which is their most spiritual dance. Afterwards the tribe did not try to perform the dance. Auchiah first studied art at St. Patrick's Indian Mission School in Anadarko, Oklahoma, under Sister Olivia Taylor, a Choctaw nun. His love for art was such that in elementary school, he was caught painting in class. As punishment, the teacher made him finish his painting instead of eating dinner. The young Auchiah said in response that was fine with him, "I would rather paint than eat." The skills of several young Kiowa living near Anadarko, Oklahoma had caught the eye of a government field matron, Susan Peters, in 1920. She noticed the artistic talent of Kiowa children and teens as they drew sketches on feed bags while waiting for their parents receiving rations at the government Kiowa field office. Susan Peters arranged for four young Kiowa, later adding a fifth student, James Auchiah, in helping them enter art classes at the University of Oklahoma. Peters arranged for Mrs. Willie Baze Lane, an artist from Chickasha, Oklahoma to provide further art instruction for the young Indians, including Auchiah. Recognizing the talent of some of the young artists, Peters convinced Swedish-American artist, Oscar Jacobson, director of the University of Oklahoma's School of Art, to accept the Kiowa students into a special program at the school. They were coached and encouraged by Edith Mahier.