Randy Kemp

Artist Biography

Randy Kemp, is a citizen of the Muscogee-Creek (Mvskoke) Nation of Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Euchee tribe of Oklahoma. A Retired Environmental Graphic Designer Sr., 30 years of service at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Alumni of Arizona State University and Bacone Jr. College, Muscogee, Oklahoma.

“My work includes both traditional tribal life and contemporary works concerning Indigenous issues, themes and views”. Kemp amuses that his art career really began on the walls of his childhood home in the Bell Gardens community of East Los Angeles, California. “My older brother would draw landscape imagery on the back patio walls and I would try to enhance his drawings with shading and texture...it was like a home art school, but without the tuition.”

Randy is a multidisciplinary artist. His works include mixed media/found objects, painting, printmaking, short films, storytelling and an award nominated Native American flute musician. His artwork has been exhibited in prominent museums, galleries and private collections throughout the world. Mvto.

Artist Statement

Various paint brush techniques were used in creating this painting process and design. With the many different techniques used I started with underpainting, painting reduction process and glazing as foundation and then moved to using washes on washes and varian line work.

The small or individual pieces called scoots of the turtle outer shell holds numerous design representation of southeastern cultural identities. As a Mvskoke, Choctaw and Euchee citizen, I wanted to explore and share the many symbols that represent our cosmology in our tribe. Mvto.