top of page
1200px-RPX_Corporation_logo.png

AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

ARTIST:
Traci Rabbit

TraciRabbitImg.jpg
tracirabbit_edited.jpg

Traci's work captures a spirit in the Native American woman that does indeed embody the best in female strength. From the proud lift of her chin in the strands of hair caught by the wind, she appears to weather all storms. Her paintings represent the way it feels to be female; to fly in the face of all that comes, with fierce dignity, energy and strength, but they also capture women's ability to be gentle, yielding, kind and passionate.

Traci Rabbit, daughter to Cherokee National Treasure & Internationally known artist Bill Rabbit and mother Karen Rabbit, was born at the Claremore Indian Hospital and grew up in the Pryor area. She says quite bluntly, "My family has always been close and I had a wonderful childhood! I grew up attending my Dad's art shows. When I was in junior high, he began flying me to his important shows like Santa Fe Indian Market and IACA, I I never considered the possibility of becoming an artist because in my mind he was the greatest and I knew I couldn't compare to him in that arena. However, I enjoyed doing art and began winning art awards in the 1st grade and the rest is history."

Traci attended Northeastern State University, which originally was the Cherokee Female Seminary, receiving a BA in Business Administrations in 1993, the first in her family to attend and graduate college. Her desire was to work for the BIA or for her Cherokee Tribe.

"My Dad started selling my paintings to galleries when I was in high school and college. Upon graduation, I started attending art shows with my Dad". Somehow, the art business consumed her and she has never looked back. Her degree has been invaluable to their business, which consists of a full gift line.

 

Traci's art career is going great; a career that includes her family. The Rabbit family produces the gift line from the conception of the original art all the way down to the production and packaging, so everything is Native American made. This is something the family takes great pride in when attending retail and wholesale markets.

She is blessed to be able to work on her art while sharing time with family. Keeping one foot steeped in tradition and the other exploring the possibilities of applying modern technology to her art and business. After the passing of her father in 2012, she continues to live in the same area her family has been since the removal of the Cherokee people to Oklahoma. She says, "Without God and the support of my family none of this would be possible.

bottom of page