About this episode

Dolores Purdy discusses her journey and the evolution of contemporary Native art in an interview on the Blue Rain Gallery Podcast.

Episode 111 of the Blue Rain Gallery Podcast welcomes acclaimed Caddo and Winnebago painter Dolores Purdy for an inspiring conversation about ledger art, Indigenous storytelling, identity, and the evolution of contemporary Native art. In this episode, Dolores shares her journey growing up in a military family, discovering her cultural roots, and developing her signature style that blends traditional ledger art influences with richly detailed contemporary compositions. Hosted at Blue Rain Gallery, this in-depth artist interview explores the history of ledger art — from its origins among Plains warriors documenting personal and tribal histories on buffalo hides and paper, to Dolores Purdy’s modern interpretation using colored pencil, watercolor, and layered visual storytelling. Dolores discusses how women’s perspectives influence her work, the symbolism behind her female figures, textiles, and imagery, and how her art bridges historical traditions with contemporary Native expression. Dolores also reflects on her 25-year career exhibiting at Santa Fe Indian Market, her work in museum and Smithsonian collections, and the importance of creating art that resonates beyond labels — art…

People in this episode

Host: Blue Rain Gallery

Guest: Dolores Purdy

Topics covered

• Indigenous storytelling
• contemporary Native art
• ledger art history
• identity
• women's perspectives in art

Keywords

• Native American art
• contemporary Indigenous artists
• Southwest art
• colored pencil
• watercolor

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Smithsonian

Books & works: ledger art

Places: Santa Fe

More episodes of Blue Rain Gallery Podcast

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• Episode 107: Robin Jones, Nos Galan Gaeaf · October 31, 2025 · 17 min
• Episode 106: Mark Pugh · October 21, 2025 · 28 min
• Episode 105: Doug West · October 20, 2025 · 26 min

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