Biograph/Statement/CV
Hoka Skenandore is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin in addition to being Oglala Lakota, La Jolla Band of Luiseno and Chicano. He grew up in a home where he learned to appreciate traditional native art as well as fine art. On his own, he embraced the DIY ethos of punk rock and hip-hop culture, setting him on the path to becoming a style writer. He transitioned from painting graffiti to working on murals in the Albuquerque metro area in the late 90s. He graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts with a BFA in studio arts in 2006, and later from the University of Oklahoma in 2020 with an MFA in painting. He is currently full-time faculty at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he teaches introductory Painting and Drawing courses.