Dwayne “Chuck” Wilcox is a master contemporary Plains ledger artist. He began his artistic endeavors in high school and although he considers himself to be self-taught, he cannot overlook the multiple mentors he has had along the way. He continues to be inspired through research and often consults historical examples to gain further insight into his works. In 1987, Chuck began his professional career as a full-time artist. His ledger art emphasizes the contemporary life of Native peoples, not a life of the past – although he often does like to revisit ‘older subjects’ with poignant sarcasm and wit. He focuses his subject matter on vignettes of Indian life infused with humor and favors depicting scenes of pow-wows, social dances, families and everyday mundane activities.

Throughout his career, Chuck has won numerous prizes and placement ribbons across the country. His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries both nationally and in Europe. His most recent awards include the 2010, 1st Place Mixed Media award and the Honikle Humor award at the Red Cloud Heritage Center.  Recent exhibitions include shows at the Hood Museum of Art in Dartmouth, NH and the Harwood Museum in Taos, NM.

Chuck’s own words best describe his approach to the ongoing tradition of ledger drawing – “I’m alive now. Our time today is just as important as the past.”

"I am just an ordinary guy who grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. I'm an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota People.

For most of my life, I drew pictures because it was a way for me to get by when times were tough or good. I don't have a deep wisdom on ledger, or a desire to change it; that's something better left alone. What I like to do is to hear what my friends say and try to put a pictograph of a story they told. Some may be humorous or just a common saying.

I use a stylized drawing technique because as an artist you have to have a look to your work that makes it original to one’s style, yet hold the background of the people who gave this tradition. We, the people who make our living at art, many times have to ask ourselves, "Is this good for a sale or to hold our integrity and make our statement?" Pride is the enemy for an artist trying just to pay their bills, but nobody wants to hear that; that's the sad reality. So, with that fact, some art gets filtered in order to pursue a financial future.

Growing up there wasn't an art magazine stand near by to find out what was hot, so for a self-taught artist all my schooling was watching others around me who had that talent. As for my own curiosity, I would look through museum archives wherever I was allowed to. I don't consider myself to be an expert; I know there is so much more to learn.

One of my first influences was Amos Bad Heart Bull (1869-1913) Oglala.  After seeing how his ledger pictures advanced in time throughout his life, I always assumed that ledger drawing should advance with the culture and stay with the times. Another influence was Ed Defender (1953-2000) Sioux.  The first time I met Ed, I laughed instantly and got his work. His work made me feel comfortable with who native people are. His titles were real and didn't lack imagination. After that awakening, I thought to myself, "his work at least made me feel alive and happy." The list does go on, but it was these two artists who brought art to life for me. 

2017

University of South Dakota, Vermillion SD 2017

Philbrook Museum Tulsa OK Oct.2 – Jan.8 2017

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian New York Feb.- Sept. 2017

UC San Diego , MCASD La Jolla 2017-2018

2016

Peabody Essex Museum Salem MS tour date Jan. 2 – April 28 2016

South Dakota Governor’s 7 th Biennial Art Exhibition

Dahl Fine Arts Center Rapid City Summer 2016

Journey Museum Rapid City SD Mar- Jun 2016

Cantor Arts Center March- June 2016

Smithsonian National Museum Of the American Indian New York Mar. 2016-Jan.2017

Hockaday Museum Kalisplell Mt May –Sept 2016

Portland Art Museum Jun. 4 – Sep 4 , 2016

Dahl Fine Arts Center Rapid City SD Jun.- Sept. 2016

Red Cloud Heritage Center Fall 2016

South Dakota Art Museum Brookings Fall 2016

Pairs Gibson Museum Great Falls Mt Sept.- Mar. 2017

2015

Dahl Fine Arts 6-9 May 2015

2014

Red Cloud Heritage Museum Pine Ridge SD

PEM Peabody Museum Salem MASS

Paris Gibson Museum Great Falls MT

University Of Alaska, Anchorage Al

Heard Museum North Scottsdale AZ

2013

San Diego Museum Of Art Alternative Accounts Cal

School of Art and Deign Santa Fe NM

Moving Walls 20 Open Society Institute Washington DC

2012

Cotemporary Indigeneity Exhibition Great Plains Museum – Lincoln,NE

Above The Fruited Plains MAM Museum – Missoula, MT

De Unkiyepi-We Are Here All My Relation Gallery – Minneapolis, MN

Hood Museum of Art Dartmouth College – Hanover, NH

Moving Walls, Open Society Institute – 400 59th New York NY

Peabody Essex Museum Shape Shifting Native America Art – Salem, MA

2011

Morning Star Gallery – Santa Fe, NM

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – Oklahoma City, OK

2010

Native American Art at Dartmouth Hood Museum of Art

University of Arkansas, Little Rock Arkansas

Skipped the Light Fandango, Harwood Museum of Art University NM Taos

Ledger Art Exhibit, Hood Museum of Art – Hanover, NH

Morning Star Gallery – Santa Fe, NM

2009

The Bison Exhibit C M Russell Museum – Great Falls, MT

Masters In Miniature C M Russell Museum – Great Falls MT

2008

Nathan Cummings Foundation – New York, NY

Institute of American Indian Arts Museum – Santa Fe, NM

RE: Generations, Legacy & Tradition, Ancient Traders Gallery – Minneapolis, MN

Morning Star Gallery – Santa Fe, NM

2007

Old Days New Ways “ Dahl Fine Arts – Rapid City, SD

Broken Trail” Indian Uprising Gallery – Bozeman, MT

2006

Impacted Nations” International Traveling Exhibit

2005

Louis And Clark Through Native Eyes”   Washington Pavilion – Sioux Falls, SD

2004

Ladies Of The Plains” Indian Uprising Gallery – Bozeman, MT

2003 

Australian Embassy, Embassy Row – Washington, DC

Heart Dreams And Legends “ International Traveling Exhibit

Horse Play” Indian Uprising Gallery – Bozeman, MT

2002

Bloomsburg University – Bloomsburg, PA

2017

Rushmore Honors Award

2013

First Place Ledger Art Santa Fe Indian Art Market, NM

First Place Ledger Art NPTAM Sioux Falls SD

Poster award Northern Plains Art Market Sioux Falls SD

Best of Northern Plains

First place mixed media Heard Museum

2012

Smile Award Santa Fe Indian Art Market, NM

2011 

Smile Award- Santa Fe Indian Art Market

Second place- Mixed Media Santa Fe Indian art Market

Second Place- Drawing NPTA Sioux Falls SD

Second Place- Three Dimensional NPTA Sioux Falls SD

Best of Division –Heard Museum Indian Art Market, Phoenix Arizona

2007

First place Flat Drawing, Santa Fe Indian Art Market

Second place Studio drawing, Santa Fe Indian Art Market

Best of Division – Heard Museum Indian Art Market, Phoenix Arizona

First Place Division Three drawing, Heritage Center Pine Ridge South Dakota

Frances Hornikel Humor award

2006

Bush Artist Fellowship Minneapolis, Minnesota

First Place Division three Drawing, Northen Plains Indian Art Market Sioux Falls South Dakota

Oscar Howe Award Mitchell SD

 2005 

Hensler Award Red Cloud Art Show SD

2004

First place, Division I oil & acrylic, Northern Plains Indian Art Market Sioux Falls SD

2003

First Place, Division XV Handmade Dolls, Northern Plains Tribal Arts

Best of Tribal Arts, Northern Plains Tribal Arts Sioux Falls SD

2001

Jerome Tiger Award Trail Of Tears Theme, Telliquah Oklahoma