​​The Artist

​

​

​

​

​

Lisa LaRue-Baker, artist/NATIVE MODERN

 Lisa LaRue-Baker is a multi-talented digital artist who seamlessly blends her personal photography with vintage images, infusing them with vibrant hues through hand-tinting techniques using watercolors.

Lisa is also a double wall basket maker and instructor who has been making baskets for over 25 years. Her work is on the contemporary side, using materials such as stainless steel, copper, silicone, and anything else ‘weavable.’ She always makes the basket traditional on the inside and contemporary on the outside, ‘just like myself.’ 

Lisa is a Cherokee Nation citizen who currently lives in Topeka, Kansas and is a member of the Kansas City Cherokee Community. She was taught basketry skills by Sandy Long, Thelma Vann Forrest, and Anna Sixkiller. With work in the permanent collections of several museums and frequently shown in various art shows around the country, she is also the gallerist and owner of 785 Arts LLC, a Department of the Interior-listed Native American art gallery, the founder of the DoPiKa Project, and serves on several art organization boards. 

Her Cherokee family is from the Stilwell and Vian areas in Oklahoma. She worked for Cherokee Nation Cultural Resource Center as Literature Review Coordinator, where she assisted in language program development and basket classes. She was also involved in the development of the Cherokee Nation Word List, the Language Teacher Certification Program, and was certified as a Cherokee History instructor by the administration.

​

​

Artist Statement

Education has always been important to me, but creativity is my passion.

I find that creativity is often the best way to educate others. Whether it be through my music, writing, photography, bohemian art, or traditional Cherokee arts, I find a way for each piece to not only speak to someone’s soul, but leave a lasting memory of history – or hope for the future. As a Native American artist, I not only create traditional art of my tribe, but contemporary arts in many genres. Touching all cultures, experiences and goals is not only the life of the contemporary Native, but helps reach many people. Indigenous art does not always have to have an “Indian” theme, but rather, is from either our perspective or embodies traditional teachings.  Art IS our culture.  Everything we do is surrounded by and based on art.  Being an artist is an important part of being a culture-bearer. 

 

I am a Native Artist crossing the boundaries into the non-Native art world.

​

​

Download Artist Resume

​

​

​

Currently Available Work​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​