Allison Horner

I was approached by The Minnesota Historical Society Press to illustrate ‘The Naming of Aki’, a retelling of a traditional Ojibwe story that celebrates what First Human and First Wolf see, taste, hear, smell, and touch as they wander Aki, the Earth, to be the namers of things. Written by Thomas Peacock (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe).

Meadowlark & the Rattlesnake is a Lakota language picture book developed by the Lakota Language Consortium. It is part of a series of intermediate readers based on oral mythologies collected by the linguist Ella Deloria.

Tȟašíyagnuŋpa na Siŋtéȟla (Meadowlark and the Rattlesnake) tells the story of Meadowlark and her children outsmarting a dangerous Rattlesnake.

Turtle Goes to War is a Lakota language picture book developed by the Lakota Language Consortium. It is part of a series of intermediate readers based on oral mythologies collected by the linguist Ella Deloria.

In this funny tale, a turtle meets friends on his path to war and succeeds in playing tricks on people.

2020, ink and colored pencil on paper

Crow Fair is held annually on the Crow Reservation in southern Montana. Festivities last for a week in mid-August, and consist of dancing, rodeos, and a parade.

These illustrations were created for the new edition of the Speak Crow! Level 1 Textbook.

Pushkar Camel Fair is an annual culture and livestock festival held in the Thar desert in Rajasthan, India.

I have never seen so many camels in one place since! My favorite memory from the event was witnessing the judging of the ‘Camel Beauty Contest’; where camels adorned with beads, shells, bells, and pom-poms are ranked on their physique and the aesthetic strength of their maximalist costumes. When I returned to New Delhi, I created a poster of the event to try and capture the lush, textured costumes of the most fashion-forward camels in the world.

In 2016 I created a triptych for the new Kroger Marketplace Café in Columbus, Indiana. Columbus is rated 6th in the nation for innovation and design by The American Institute of Architects and is the home of buildings designed by world-famous modernists like I.M.Pei and Eero Saarinen. This artwork celebrates the community who have shaped this architectural heritage.

Project Statement:
’In this mural, I play upon the abstract and enigmatic conversation taking place among our community’s distinct modernist environment. Architects, designers and artists use public spaces like schools, churches, and libraries as a vehicle for expression. In turn, these landmarks are accessible to all who live and work here. As an artist and a member of the community, I am witness to how this shared excellence motivates civic pride and individual pursuits.’

acrylic on panel, full dimensions: 6 x 12.5’

In 2019, I participated in Gallery 924’s annual exhibition of tiny art featuring local Indiana artists. I created a series of seven paintings designed to fit perfectly inside tiny second-hand frames I had thrifted and revitalized. Each of these watercolor-and-ink paintings are less than 6 x 6”.

2019, watercolor and ink on paper