Fred Beaver (Eka La Nee [Brown Head])

Muscogee (Creek)/Seminole, 1911-1980

Birth PlaceEufala, Oklahoma, United States, North America

Death PlaceChecotah, Oklahoma, United States, North America

BiographyFred Beaver (2 July 1911 – 18 August 1980) was a prominent Muscogee Creek-Seminole painter and muralist from Oklahoma.

Fred Beaver was born in Eufaula, Oklahoma. His Muscogee name was Ekalanee, meaning "Brown Head". Before Beaver had attended grade school, he was not able to speak any English and became a self-taught artist throughout the years of school. Graduating from high school in 1931, Beaver went straight into college at Bacone College. Beaver was an important part of the early Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, gradusting in 1935. From there, he attended the Haskell Business College

Beaver really had no art training at Bacone while he was there and gave up his art career during the Great Depression and went to serve in World War II. Once he had returned to the United States, he picked up his art career again and had a great teacher, Acee Blue Eagle. He entered the Philbrook Museum of Art's annual art competition in Tulsa, Oklahoma and won an Honorable mention award. He helped define traditional Oklahoma Indian art with his style that he created; he started defining traditional painting of the Five Civilized Tribes. Beaver was one of the first artists to be designated as "Master Artists" of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. His works are included in many museums and collections, including the Heard Museum.

Person TypeIndividual