Benjamin Harjo Jr. of Oklahoma City, Okla., graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in fine arts. Harjo is a Seminole and Absentee Shawnee who is one of the nation's leading American Indian artists. He was inducted into the OSU Alumni Hall of Fame on February 17, 2012, at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Harjo attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M., studying printmaking. After graduating from the arts institute, Harjo received a Bureau of Indian Affairs grant to attend OSU. He was drafted and sent to Vietnam in 1969, after two years at OSU. In 1971, Harjo returned to OSU to finish his degree and graduated with a bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1974. After receiving his degree, Harjo moved to Tulsa and began his art career. Harjo gained the attention of Jim Halsey, a country music promoter and manager of guitarist Roy Clark, who bought several of his paintings and set up a mobile art gallery displaying his work. Harjo met his wife, Barbara, at an Indian art conference at Oklahoma City University. Harjo's work has been featured in several publications including, The National Museum of American Indian, Washington DC magazine, Southwest Art Today, Oklahoma Today and Art of the West. Several of his paintings have been purchased by private collectors and his work can be viewed in public collections, including the Fred E. Brown Collection at the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Red Earth Center, Gilcrease Museum, Wheelright Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian. During his 35 year career, Harjo has received several honors and awards for his artwork. In 1987, he received the Red Earth Grand Award at the Red Earth Festival. He was also honored by former Oklahoma Governor David Walters for his selection by Absolut Vodka to represent Oklahoma in its USA Today campaign. Harjo was the Featured Artist for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian's Annual Aspen Benefit in 1993 and 1994. In 2002, Harjo was named an OSU Distinguished Alumnus by the OSU Alumni Association. He was named Signature Artist of the 2005 Santa Fe Indian Market. In 2009, Harjo was named an Oklahoma Living Treasure by the OU Health Center and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement by the Native American Art Studies Association. Harjo is a member of the OSU Alumni Association and currently lives in Oklahoma City with his wife, Barbara, where he is a self employed artist. He enjoys collecting books about Native American Tribes and helping the OSU Art Department, where he has given lectures and taught workshops on printmaking. For more information about the OSU Alumni Hall of Fame, visit orangeconnection.org/hof.

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