“I was not wholly conscious of myself, but was more keenly alive to the fire within. It was as if I were the activity, and my hands and feet were only experiments for my spirit to work upon.”
― Zitkala-Ša, American Indian Stories and Old Indian Legends
Zitkala-Ša (Yankton Dakota, 1876–1938) was a writer and political advocate whose work exposed the realities of U.S. boarding school policies and the forced assimilation of Native peoples. She is best known for her autobiographical essays published in The Atlantic Monthly and Harper’s Magazine, where she documented the cutting of her hair, the loss of Native language, and the long-term impact of cultural erasure. These writings remain foundational texts in Indigenous American literature.
In addition to her literary work, Zitkala-Ša co-founded the National Council of American Indians and advocated for Native citizenship and voting rights. This portrait is part of Women, Reimagined, a series that reconsiders women whose histories were often shaped by others. Through abstraction and restraint, the work shifts Zitkala-Ša from an archival subject to a present-tense figure, emphasizing intellect, resolve, and self-determination rather than symbolism.
25 hand-signed, numbered, limited-edition archival prints available
18×24 inch wall size on 100% cotton cold-press watercolor paper
Designed to last 100+ years with proper care
Includes certificate of authenticity
Once sold out, the edition will never be reprinted
Please allow 10-14 business days for your art to be shipped. Art comes unframed so you can pick the perfect frame for your space.
“I was not wholly conscious of myself, but was more keenly alive to the fire within. It was as if I were the activity, and my hands and feet were only experiments for my spirit to work upon.”
― Zitkala-Ša, American Indian Stories and Old Indian Legends
Zitkala-Ša (Yankton Dakota, 1876–1938) was a writer and political advocate whose work exposed the realities of U.S. boarding school policies and the forced assimilation of Native peoples. She is best known for her autobiographical essays published in The Atlantic Monthly and Harper’s Magazine, where she documented the cutting of her hair, the loss of Native language, and the long-term impact of cultural erasure. These writings remain foundational texts in Indigenous American literature.
In addition to her literary work, Zitkala-Ša co-founded the National Council of American Indians and advocated for Native citizenship and voting rights. This portrait is part of Women, Reimagined, a series that reconsiders women whose histories were often shaped by others. Through abstraction and restraint, the work shifts Zitkala-Ša from an archival subject to a present-tense figure, emphasizing intellect, resolve, and self-determination rather than symbolism.
25 hand-signed, numbered, limited-edition archival prints available
18×24 inch wall size on 100% cotton cold-press watercolor paper
Designed to last 100+ years with proper care
Includes certificate of authenticity
Once sold out, the edition will never be reprinted
Please allow 10-14 business days for your art to be shipped. Art comes unframed so you can pick the perfect frame for your space.
