Francis Blackbear Bosin (1921-1980) was born in Cyril, Oklahoma. His Kiowa name, Tsate Kongia, means “Balckbear” and belongs to his paternal grandfather, a Kiowa chief. Bosin was offered an arts scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, but turned it down. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. While he was in the Marines, he had the first exhibition of his works in Honolulu, Hawaii. Beginning in 1946, Bosin began to enter art competitions and his work was shown at exhibitions and galleries. His work, Green Corn Dance, won an honorable mention at the Philbrook Art Center’s first Indian Artists Annual. In 1952, Bosin’s Death Bird was awarded first prize at the Philbrook’s Indian Art Annual. Bosin was awarded with international recognition when his painting, Prairie Fire, was featured in the May 1955 issue of National Geographic. Bosin won numerous awards for his art. He was the only Native American artist to participate in the 1965 White House Festival of Arts. Prairie Fire was displayed at the Festival.Lady Bird Johnson requested that Bosin sit at her table. The Departnemt of the Interior commissioned a series of paintings from Bosin, known as the Kiowa Series, that was devoted to the historical and religious heritage of the Kiowa. In 1967, Bosin was awarded the Victory Trophy by the Philbrook. After receiving this award, he made the decision to step back from entering art competitions to allow younger artists to gain recognition. Bosin attributed his distintive style to the fact that he did not have formal art training. Although capable of painting in the European style of realism, Bosin chose not to do so, stating: “I find it empty. I simply don’t care for it. I would rather stay within the limitations of Traditional Indian paintings.”