Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds

Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds (b. 1954) is a multidisciplinary artist and enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. He is the Headsman of the Traditional Elk Scraper Cheyenne Warrior Society. Internationally recognized for his text-based conceptual practice, he works across public art, painting, printmaking, drawing, and monumental porcelain enamel on steel sculpture. His work challenges dominant historical narratives and foregrounds Indigenous perspectives, often transforming the language of public signage into powerful acts of remembrance, resistance, and cultural affirmation. He has taught at institutions including Yale University, the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and the University of Oklahoma. His work has been exhibited extensively in the United States, including at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and internationally, and he has received numerous honors, including fellowships, honorary doctorates, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.