Ledger Art Activity

What is Ledger Art?

Ledger Art is a term for Plains Indian narrative drawing or painting on paper or cloth. Ledger art flourished primarily from the 1860s to the 1920s. A revival of ledger art began in the 1960s and 1970s. The term comes from the accounting ledger books that were a common source of paper for Plains Indians during the late 19th century.

Ledger Artist:

George Curtis Levi is a member of the Southern Cheyenne Tribe of Oklahoma. He is also Southern Arapaho and Oglala Lakota. He was raised in the Western Oklahoma communities of El Reno, Concho and Geary. The art and history of the Cheyenne people motivate him in his art. He is influenced by Cheyenne and Arapaho artists of the past. He specializes in Cheyenne-style ledger art, and also acrylic and watercolor paintings. He is also well known for his custom beadwork and parfleche work.