Ledger Art

Ledger art refers the paper the drawings are created on. This art form derived from pictorial drawings on rock and later hide as a narrative or story telling art form in the mid to late 1800's. It was an adaptive art which came about from the need to continue traditionally documenting and telling our stories through drawing during Reservation Era when hides became scarce. Historically a warriors art or mens art form which depicted the personal narratives of battle, ceremonies, courtship and hunting. Lauren Good Day descends from one such warrior artist, Bloody Knife an Arikara warrior & scout whose ledger works can be found in the permanent collections of the world renowned Smithsonian Institution. Following in that legacy, Lauren's work has had the honor of also being collected and displayed by the Smithsonian's permanent collections and National Museum of American Indian NYC & DC in the prominent pictorial & ledger exhibition, Unbound, Plains Narrative Art. Lauren was one of six ledger artists and the only female ledger artist chosen for this exhibition as she was one of the first contemporary female ledger artists to continue this tradition but through her own feminine interpretation. Solely depicting stories of womanhood, children & families in comparison to the war-like narratives of the past. She draws from her deeply rooted cultural upbringing and knowledge instilled within from generations of Arikara, Hidatsa, Blackfeet, & Cree women before her. All of her works are created with meaning, prayer and her own life experience of woman & motherhood. For information on commissioning custom art please contact laurengoodday@gmail.com