Ofuskie projects his passion for painting and Indigenous people through acrylics

SANTA FE, NM. – Artist George Alexander (Mvskoke) has come a long way from growing up on the Mvskoke Reservation in Mason. Alexander goes by the name Ofuskie, an homage to Okfuskee, the county he grew up in. Although Alexander has been making art his entire life, his hard work and dedication has culminated into owning his own art studio where he produces original paintings. Alexander was named as one of this year’s National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 40 under 40 honorees for contributions to his community.

Alexander came from humble beginnings in Mason, Oklahoma. According to Alexander, he was always drawing.

“I started out as a kid drawing my favorite cartoon characters,” Alexander said. “I didn’t know it at the time but I was developing skills to become an artist.” 

Alexander’s parents passed away when he was just 14 years old. Drawing became a coping mechanism for him while his parents were sick in the hospital. Although Alexander lost his parents at a young age, he was left with five older siblings who helped continue to raise him. He would then find himself moving from Mason to the Tulsa area, and attending school in Sapulpa. Alexander remembered drawing during lunchtime at school, which is how he made friends. After graduation, Alexander initially wanted to enlist in the military but was unable to due to a heart condition.

For a while, Alexander worked as a casino security guard before he heard about an opportunity to hone his skills and true passion at the Institute for American Indian Art (IAIA). By age 23, Alexander knew that art was something he wanted to do for the rest of his life. After graduating from IAIA, it was off to graduate school in Italy for Alexander. There he would attend the Studio Art College International in Florence.

“One of the main things that I learned out there is that art isn’t so much about the creation of the object, but the dialogue with the object that makes it art,” Alexander said. 

These experiences would prove to be instrumental in Alexander’s development as a professional artist. This is where he would meet lifelong friends and beloved mentors.

Ofuskie’s Career

The decision to adopt the name Ofuskie came one day when Alexander was painting with his mentor, Tony Abeyta (Dinė), in his studio. Alexander said that Abeyta typically enjoyed listening to records while he painted, and put on a record with a lyric that instantly captured Alexander’s attention.

“He put on this one record that was this folk singer and I didn’t recognize who it was or anything,” Alexander said. “This guy was like, ‘I come from a place called Okfuskee’. It hit my ear and I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’.”

The song made references to other places Alexander grew up around like Buckeye Creek. Alexander immediately asked Abeyta who the artist on the album was. Abeyta told him that the artist was Billy Bragg, a musician from England. Although Bragg is known for his punk rock style of music, he has also produced folk songs. According to Alexander, some of those folk songs contain unreleased lyrics by the famous Oklahoma folk artist Woody Guthrie, with permission by the Guthrie estate. From that moment on, Abeyta affectionately referred to Alexander as Ofuskie, which is the signature Alexander signs his paintings with today.

“It was not only a cool connection to my home, but also to pay a great respect to a man (Abeyta) who has given me a lot of mentorship that I use every day in my own practice,” Alexander said. 

Alexander is primarily known for his acrylics on canvas. In addition to Abeyta, one of Alexander’s biggest inspirations for his work is Kent Monkman, a Cree artist who is well-known for his provocative pieces depicting Western European and American history.

Regardless of the medium he is working in, Alexander views all objects as sculptural, or with the potential to be formed into something else. Alexander is mindful of the medium he works in, and how the object he works with fits in its environment. According to Alexander, an artwork is more than just the physical space it occupies, it also holds conceptual meaning. Or rather, the discussion about the work becomes incorporated into it as well.

Studio and the Mvskoke Art Market

The idea for Alexander to open the Ofuskie Fine Art Studio came from Abeyta. According to Alexander it does not matter where or what an artist’s workspace is, what matters is that it is authentically their space. Alexander also remarked that a studio space is important to fellowship with other artists and create community with one another. 

Although Alexander now calls the southwest home, he makes the trek back to Oklahoma for the holidays and the Mvskoke Art Market. Alexander and his works will be featured at this year’s Mvskoke Art Market, set to take place at the River Spirit Casino and Resort April 20-21. Among the many joys the market brings to artists like Alexander, he says what makes it special is the people.

“It’s a tremendous market, I encourage any artist to apply, whether you’re Creek or not. I’ve made some really great sales there,” Alexander said. “more importantly I have made some great networking connections and also made some really great friends.”