Some stories are passed down in words, others in objects—fragments of history carried forward by those who hold them. The story of the Walker Youngbird Foundation began not with a single painting or sculpture, but with the quiet presence of art itself, moving through generations, informing identity, waiting to be understood.

From an early age, I was shaped by the way my father, Hans Walker Jr., forged connections in Native communities from the Everglades to the Arctic Circle. A trailblazing lawyer—one of the first Native attorneys to rise to national prominence—he led numerous landmark cases that helped improve life in Indian Country, including one before the U.S. Supreme Court. But what truly set him apart was his ability to listen—to elders, to leaders, to those fighting to reclaim their sovereignty.

Every so often, he brought something home: a Pueblo katsina doll, a soapstone pipe from the Great Lakes, or a carved polar bear from the Arctic. He never explained their meaning outright. Instead, he gave them a place in our home, quiet testaments to the journeys that defined him.

Later, after my aunts passed, I received several sculptures and paintings—works by Allan Houser, Robert Penn, Roger Broer—each one a story in its own right, a history I suddenly found myself responsible for. These weren’t just objects; they were voices, perspectives, entire worldviews rendered in paint and stone. It was more than a collection; it was a legacy still unfolding.

I realized then that art doesn’t just preserve culture—it propels it. It reminds us of who we are and who we’re becoming. The work of these artists defies simplification—each shaped by place, practice, and perspective.

The Walker Youngbird Foundation was born from this understanding. Named in honor of my father and grandfather, Hans Youngbird Walker, it is a commitment to the next generation of Indigenous artists—those who will challenge, expand, and redefine the space at the intersection of culture, memory, and modern form.

Every piece we’ve collected, every artist we’ve supported, is part of a larger story—a story of continuity, resilience, and creativity that refuses to be forgotten. The Foundation exists to ensure that these voices not only endure but thrive, making their mark on the art world just as my father made his mark on the legal world.

Some stories are passed down in words. Others are carried forward in the hands of artists, forging new paths with every paint stroke, every sculpted curve, every vision that demands to be seen.

This is the story we honor—and the future we’re helping to shape.

Written By Reid Walker, Walker Youngbird Founder

The Story of Walker Youngbird: A Legacy in Art

Walker Youngbird Foundation