Raymond Nordwall

Bio

Raymond Nordwall grew up in Muskogee, Ok. He was introduced to a friends uncle, artist, Johnny Tiger Jr. (Jerome Tiger's brother) at the age of twelve. Johnny would take Raymond's artwork along with his own to galleries around Oklahoma where they would both sell. After high school Raymond attended Oklahoma State University and Bacone college in Muskogee, to study with Dick West. During this time in Raymond's development as an artist, he painted in the 'Oklahoma style' of Indian art which was flat, two dimensional, watercolor on matboard.
Later Raymond attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe NM. After arriving in Santa Fe, Raymond's work became more contemporary. After graduation from IAIA, Raymond studied with Frank Howell. Learning the monotype process and working at Howell's gallery Nordwall was ready to become a full time artist at the age of 22.
Raymond has had more than 30 one man shows across the country, including New York, Palm Beach, Jackson Wy. Palm Springs, Santa Fe, among many others.

Nordwall works in oils, acrylics, monotype,mixed media and watercolor.
Raymond is very proud of being a member of the Pawnee tribe of Oklahoma and Red Lake Chippewa. "My mother loved Indian art, she introduced it to me at a very young age. She would often commission different native artists around Muskogee to paint pieces for our family. We would attend pow wows every summer where I learned to dance at 6 yrs." Raymond's mother died when he was 9. "As long as I've painted, I've always done native subject matter. Although I paint wildlife and even plein air landscapes, I always return to my first subject. I feel close to my mom when I do."