Collection: Victoria McKinney

Cultural Background: Echota Cherokee of Alabama

Born and raised in the Ozark Mountain town of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Victoria McKinney exited her professional life to pursue, with no formal artistic training, a career as an artist in 1992. While taking a college level class on the “Indians of Arkansas” Victoria became enamored with the designs and motifs of the prehistoric Native American civilization known as the Mound Builders, who were located in what is now the eastern portion of the United States. She was struck by the uniqueness and complexity of the motifs and designs they incorporated into their shell work, hammered copper, pottery and ceremonial items. Victoria believed that these ancient people were part of her cultural heritage and dedicated her career towards honoring them and expanding people’s knowledge of their designs and culture.