Stephen Mopope (1898–1974), the oldest in the group, was born on the Kiowa Reservation in
Oklahoma Territory. His relatives, including his great-uncles
Silver Horn and
Fort Marion ledger artist Ohettoint, recognized his artistic talent at an early age and taught him traditional Kiowa painting techniques.
Jack Hokeah (ca. 1900/2-1969) was orphaned at a young age and raised by his grandmother. Later in life,
San Ildefonso Pueblo potter
Maria Martinez adopted him as a son and he lived with her family for a decade in
New Mexico.
Monroe Tsatoke (1904–1937) was born near
Saddle Mountain, Oklahoma. His father Tsatokee ("Hunting Horse") was his first artistic influence.
James Auchiah (1906–1974) was born near present-day
Medicine Park, Oklahoma. His grandfather was Red Tipi, a ledger artist,
medicine man, and bundle keeper.
Spencer Asah (ca. 1905/1910-1954) was born in
Carnegie, Oklahoma. His father, a buffalo medicine man, provided Asah with the traditional cultural background to inspire his art.
Lois Smoky (1907–1981), born near
Anadarko, was the youngest of the group and the only woman.
St. Patrick's Mission School Five of the artists attended the St. Patrick's Mission School in Anadarko, serving Kiowa, Comanche and Apache children. Operating from 1872 to 1996, the school, also known as the Anadarko Boarding School, was the longest surviving of the seven schools for Native American children in Oklahoma operated by St. Patrick's Mission. There, the five Kiowa artists received formal art instruction from a
Choctaw nun, Sister Mary Olivia Taylor (1872–1931). Monroe Tsatoke did not attend St. Patrick's and did not receive formal art training until the Anadarko Agency field matron,
Susan Peters, took an interest in the young Kiowa artists and established an art club. Peters arranged for Mrs. Willie Baze Lane of
Chickasha, Oklahoma, to give them painting lessons.
University of Oklahoma Susie Peters, while working at the Indian Agency, encouraged
Oscar Jacobson, the director of the
University of Oklahoma's art department to create a special program for the Kiowa artists. In 1926, Asah, Hokeah, Tsatoke, and Mopope moved to
Norman, Oklahoma. They were soon joined by Lois Smoky in 1927 and lived together in a house rented by Lois Smoky's parents. Jacobson provided studio space for the group, but felt that he did not want to interfere with the direction their painting was taking. Dr. Edith Mahler, an art professor at OU provided painting instruction and critiques. In the fall of 1927, James Auchiah joined the program at OU. Lois Smoky returned home in 1927, leaving the program. She married and was devoted to her family. Although she did not continue painting, she became a beadwork artist. Since her paintings are the rarest, they have become the most collectible of the group. ==Art career==