This untitled acrylic on paper painting by Norma Howard created in 1981 is available through the Buffalo Creek Collection. A Native man stands before a pale teal backdrop, his torso bare, his head adorned with a twin-feathered roach headdress, each hand grasping a kabocca— handcrafted sticks used in Indigenous North American stickball. His expression is stern, his gaze fixed on something unseen in the distance. This striking composition painted early in Howard’s career showcases her unique vision and the talent that lifted her into an illustrious, lifelong career.
