Ernest Spybuck

Ernest Spybuck
Ernest Spybuck, Absentee Shawnee artist, ca. 1910
Born	January 1883 Potawatomi/Shawnee Reservation, Indian Territory
Died	1949 (aged 66) On Indian allotment land, 16 miles west of Tecumseh, Oklahoma
Nationality	Absentee Shawnee, American
Other names	Maythela, Mathkacea
Education	Self-taught
Known for	Painting, drawing
Movement	Native American modernism
Patron(s)	M. R. Harrington

Earnest Spybuck (January 1883 – 1949) was an Absentee Shawnee Native American artist,^[1] who was born on the land allotted the Shawnee Indians in Indian Territory and what was to later become Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, near the town of Tecumseh. M. R. Harrington, an archaeologist/anthropologist, was touring the area documenting Native Americans, their history, culture and living habits. Interested in the religious ceremonies of the Shawnee which included the use of peyote, Harrington had ventured to the Shawnee Tribal lands. There he learned of Earnest Spybuck's artistic work and encouraged Spybuck in his endeavors. While Spybuck's work was obviously art, Harrington saw that he was illustrating detailed scenes of ceremonies, games, and social gatherings which could be used to illustrate many anthropological publications. Spybuck's work was received positively by both Native American and non-native artistic communities. Many of his works are now held by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.