Heidi Bigknife

Heidi BigKnife (born May 13, 1967, Shawnee Tribe) is a Native American artist living in Oklahoma. She is well known for her unique jewelry, a talent she developed at the Institute of American Indian Art.

Early life Heidi BigKnife was born in Enid, Oklahoma and grew up in Denver, Colorado, where her Shawnee mother worked in interior design. Her father trained pilots at the Vance Air Force Base in Enid while in the service; he later worked as a commercial pilot. She is enrolled in the Shawnee Nation.

BigKnife has said that her career was influenced by her mother's artistic eye during her childhood. She remembers doing countless arts-and-crafts projects with her mother and developing the skill to "create something out of nothing."

Style and notable works BigKnife works in jewelry design, often gathering found items for inspiration. Her work attempts to preserve her Native American culture while simultaneously recycling images of the past into new forms and shapes through materials and techniques. She is also a skilled metalsmith and combines political and social messages into her pieces.

Awards and achievements BigKnife was awarded the Helen Hardin Memorial Scholarship, which she used primarily to purchase jewelry supplies.

Her work has appeared in Tulsa People magazine and has been reviewed by Metalsmith magazine. Her work has won competitive awards for jewelry at the Tulsa Indian Art Festival, Indian Market, and the Heard Indian Art Fair