The Importance and Influence of T.C. Cannon
I admit that I was stunned when I discovered T.C. (Tommy) Cannon. How had I not heard of this artist before? His visionary work broke the ground for so many of the contemporary Native artists I already love by transcending boundaries of culture and time. Born in 1946 into the Kiowa and Caddo Nations in Oklahoma, Cannon came to the then new Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM in 1964 and offered a unique visual language that tackled issues of identity, colonization, and cultural survival. His works continues to inspire and challenge the art world, making him a pivotal figure in Native American art history.
Blending Native Tradition and Modernity
Cannon’s art reflects a deep connection to his Native roots while challenging the conventions of both Native and Western art. He came into the southwest art scene in the 1960s, when most Native American art was sheltered from modern influences, instead treated as a preservation project of sorts, focused on drawings and watercolors depicting traditional images like animals and scenery. Cannon combined traditional Native symbolism with modern techniques like vibrant color palettes, bold compositions, and abstract forms. His works disrupted the romanticized, often reductive depictions of Native Americans seen in mainstream art, offering instead a complex narrative of Native identity in a post-colonial world.
In his painting All the Tired Horses in the Sun, Cannon explores the burden carried by Native peoples through generations of colonization and cultural suppression. The title itself speaks to exhaustion but is visually juxtaposed by Cannon’s use of bold, electrifying colors. Horses are often used as symbols in traditional Native pieces, but here, as they rest under the sun their weariness hints at a more universal fatigue and evokes resilience and beauty in the face of struggle.
In his piece Two Guns Arikara, Cannon juxtaposes a Native figure wearing traditional regalia with elements of Western pop culture. This work exemplifies his ability to merge the old with the new, positioning Native Americans as complex individuals who could both honor their heritage and engage with the modern world. This piece, one of his last, seems influenced by Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Mattisse in style.
Political and Social Commentary
Cannon’s art often carried powerful political messages, reflecting his concern for social justice and Indigenous rights. His works exposed the harsh realities of colonization and displacement while also celebrating Native endurance and adaptability. He challenged stereotypes of Indigenous peoples as relics of the past, instead presenting them as complex, dynamic individuals navigating modernity.
Grandmother Gestating Father and the Washita River Runs Ribbon-Like is particularly potent in its reflection of historical trauma. By blending the intimate (family relationships) with the historical (the 1868 massacre at Washita, near where he grew up), Cannon not only memorializes his ancestors but also forces viewers to confront the brutal legacies of American expansionism. His work becomes a form of resistance, honoring the survival of Indigenous culture while calling out the injustices of the past. Cannon’s use of layered colors and surrealist imagery adds depth, making the work both a tribute to his ancestors and a statement on the enduring strength of Native people.
Continuing his commentary on colonization, the woman featured in Waiting for the Bus (Anadarko Princess) is dressed in traditional attire but sits on a street bench with a modern handbag and umbrella. It’s unexpected, yet totally plausible. Why wouldn’t a scene like this exist?
A Multidisciplinary Native Talent
In addition to his visual art, Cannon was a gifted poet and musician. His multidisciplinary approach added layers of meaning to his pieces, making them not only visually stunning but also emotionally and intellectually rich. His poems often mirrored the themes of his paintings, delving into the complexities of Native identity, spirituality, and survival in a world shaped by colonization.
His ability to fuse art forms enriched his work, allowing for deeper expressions of the Native experience. Cannon’s poetry, much like his paintings, tackled themes of loss, renewal, and cultural resilience, giving voice to a generation of Native artists grappling with their place in modern society.
Enduring Legacy and Influence
Though his life was tragically cut short in 1978, Cannon’s impact on Native American art continues to resonate. His work has been featured in major exhibitions and museums, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He paved the way for future Indigenous artists, like Jeffrey Gibson, the first Native American solo presenter at the prestigious 2024 Venice Biennale, offering them a framework to explore the intersections of tradition and contemporary issues in their own work.
Cannon’s influence is also visible in the works of modern Native American artists like Wendy Red Star, who, like Cannon, challenges stereotypes and use art to navigate the complexities of identity in a post-colonial world. His fearless blend of modernist techniques with traditional Native themes set a precedent for how Native stories could be told, making him a touchstone for contemporary Native art.
T.C. Cannon’s work remains a testament to the power of art as a tool for resistance, healing, and storytelling. His ability to merge traditional Indigenous themes with modernist techniques and his commitment to addressing issues of identity, colonization, and cultural resilience make him one of the most significant Native American artists of the 20th century. Cannon continues to challenge viewers to look deeper, engage with history, and recognize the enduring strength of Native peoples. His legacy, both artistic and cultural, endures as a powerful influence on generations of Native artists and a beacon of hope for Indigenous communities navigating the modern world
Have you been surprised by Cannon’s work? Leave a comment below!
