J. NiCole Hatfield
Comanche/ Kiowa (Numunuu/ Khoiye-Goo)
Contemporary painter J. NiCole Hatfield (Nahmi-A-Piah) is a Native Oklahoman who draws her inspiration from old historical photographs of her proud tribal women.
By painting them she feels she not only acknowledges them as well as honors them by giving them a voice in our contemporary world. She frequently incorporates tribal language into her paintings to teach as well keep Native languages alive.
A self taught artist who refers to painting as ‘her voice’ uses her preferred medium of acrylic to translate her bold colors to canvas. She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe for one semester, which transcended her art into a range of different mediums.
“My indigenous goddess series is based on positive indigenous women of today of all walks of life. This is an ongoing series, these are mainly women that I look up to and am inspired by, but also want our youth to see them as well, so they too can have someone to look up to. So far we have Artist April Holder (Sac and Fox/Wichita/Tonkawa), Model/Indigenous studies student Darian Lonechild (Plains cree/Saulteaux), And Native Rights Activist Kim Smith (Dine).I want people to see the inner beauty of our women, not just the physical appearance. The colors represent my emotions and emotions around me. We carry all of these beautiful colors within ourselves and I want them to resonate with each portrait. Without me having to speak about it. I hope this makes sense, I am not a writer nor a speaker, my voice is the paints.”
Santa Fe launched J. Nicole into the art scene with strength and confidence as she has been a gallery and collector’s favorite at the Indigenous Fine Art Market (IFAM), live paints and lectures at the Paseo Art Gallery. She is frequently a guest artist at the world famous launch pad of Native American fine art the Oscar B. Jacobson House on the O.U. campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Her work is not only in many notable private collections but she is honored to be recognized and collected by the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center. She had an exhibit at the Anadarko Southern Plains Museum Titled “My Art is my Voice” in Dec 2014. Also The Comanche Nation Tourism Center Winter Gala 2014 exhibit along side of other notable Comanche Artist. Also J. NiCole is a part of the Pahiitu exhibit at the Comanche Nation Museum & Cultural Center May 2015-August 2015. She has Participated in a several fundraiser events such as the; Norman Arts Council One Beat Street 2014 fundraiser, Tonemah Annual Christmas Benefit Concert 2014 live art fundraiser, and the Oklahoma City Film Club Anniversary Celebration 2015 exhibit. J. NiCole also travels locally creating live works of art for special events or fundraisers for different organizations such as the Comanche Nation I AM NDN Program, which focuses on empowering the native youth. She has been featured in the Look at OKC news paper and The Oklahoma Gazette. She placed second in the 2D Painting division at the Artesian Arts Festival 2015 in Sulpher OK. Also second place at the 2015 Comanche Nation Fair. She is currently working on a mural at Lacey Pioneer in Anadarko, OK. She attended the 2015 Indigenous Fine Art Market in Santa Fe, NM. J. NiCole’s art work “Cheyenne Girl” Won the Kauffman and Associates call for native art work and has been featured on walls in different cities for the Native Art 4 Health Campaign 2015. She has participated in the Jacobson House Pony Moon Gala Fundraiser 2015. J. NiCole has also visited the Sherman Indian HS, in Riverside California in Nov. 2015 to give a presentation and speak with several art classes and the entire student body about her art, while there. She gave a lecture as part of the NASP Lecture series for the Native American Student Program of the University of California about her artwork and Indigenous Identity. While there she was presented the Rupert Costo Medal award. 2016 she was invited to perform a live paint at the Public Health Service Symposium. Also has completed her second mural at the Downtown OKC Sheridan Underpass “Strength of the Woman”. She has participated in the 4th annual American Indian & Indigenous Film Festival of 2016, Small Works, Great Wonders National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Art Show, and NMAI Art Market 2016. 2017 Gathering of the tribes SRP at UCR, Riverside, CA workshop. Worked with the Delaware Nation Suicide Prevention Program to give a painting workshop in June 2017. On November 4th 2017 performed a live paint for the Red Feather Gala’s Annual Fundraiser in Okc, OK to raise funds for the Indian Health Services Women’s Health Program in OKC, OK. Also In November of 2017 she attended the Juried Autry Art Market in Los Angeles, CA, the following month December 2017 also attended the Juried NMAI Smithsonian Native American Art Market in New York, NY. Currently attending different Native American Art Market, workshops, and various fundraisers throughout the year.
Born and raised in the Southern Plains of Oklahoma J. Nicole, respectfully of the Penetukah (honey eater) band of Comanche's, has a profound understanding of the unique paradox in which Native American people and artists find themselves. Challenged with Art’s demand to “make it new” while still honoring and appreciating the unchanging spirit in all things as well as traditional tribal values. By consolidating the past as well as transcending it, she is able to obtain the gasps of artistic air needed to escape drowning in the assimilating flood of Native Fine Art.
