Raven Halfmoon (Caddo Nation) is from Norman, Oklahoma. A recent finalist for the Burke Award at the Museum of Art & Design in New York, she attended the University of Arkansas where she earned a double Bachelors Degree in ceramics, painting and cultural anthropology. Her work has been featured in multiple exhibitions throughout the US as well as internationally. Raven is currently based in Helena, Montana where she works as a Long Term Resident at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts.
“I have focused on producing a body of work that is reflective of how I feel both as a woman and as an American Indian living in the 21st Century. In this collection, I illustrate how I feel about the ancient legacy of my Caddo tribal heritage, while at the same time acknowledging the modern day and age. Each piece is a reflection of my understanding and interpretation of Caddo culture and the fight to maintain a place for it in today’s world.”
“Through my installations, I want to tell a story both of how one understands self and culture, but also what defines these ideals in America today. I create work that is large and powerful. I build sculptures that demand to be heard and experienced. I have always found large-scale sculpture powerful because it creates urgency in the viewer. I want to make a work that takes all the space in a room, and one where eyes cannot be diverted from it. I remain a steadfast researcher and learner about my ancestors and our history. The Caddo people have always been renowned for ceramics, and I am just taking my place in that tradition. I feel it is my duty to continue this legacy of sharing information through craft and clay. It is necessary for me to continue a tradition of making, telling and sharing history.”
