Specializing in Line Works and Cultural Collaboration

Think Thoroughly — Mark Once

Discipline

dg smalling is passionate about fine art and design. His love for creativity inspires him to create unique and beautiful designs that capture the essence of his clients' vision.

Expertise

With two decades of experience in the fine art and design sector, his extensive expertise ensures your concepts come to fruition. Supported by a teams of experts, they employ cutting-edge technology and methodologies to deliver exceptional designs that surpass expectations.

Process

dg smalling emphasizes the significance of communication in crafting outstanding designs. His approach entails close collaboration with clients to grasp their requirements and aspirations. Subsequently, he devises tailored strategies and executes them meticulously to realize your concepts effectively.

About dg smalling

Technique:

Think Thoroughly — Mark Once

Method:

I am best known for creating artwork rendered in a single, unbroken line.
To be honest with oneself in defining what one does not desire is to uncover what remains—good, better, and best—all of which are livable.
Clarity of message transcends medium; it is cultural and interpersonal awareness that gives art its true substance, rendering materials secondary.
I do not paint what is dark, cynical, or macabre. Instead, I seek to affirm virtue and aspirational ideals—an artistic pursuit too often underestimated in its rigor.
I practice Cultural Collaboration, as it is the antidote to cultural appropriation. If we wish not to be appropriated, we must first commit ourselves to never appropriate.
My Choctaw heritage is an essential part of who I am. Choctaw culture honors simplicity and restraint in its forms and daily life. I see my work as a contemporary continuation of that timeless discipline.
Line is the essence of all design. It defines, creates context, and allows subjects to emerge in unclouded clarity—unburdened by excess technique. Abstraction, at its strongest, endures when reduced to its purest element: Line. For this reason, I am drawn to minimalism.

Professional Synopsis

Notable Portraits:

Notable Commissions:

Prime Minister Tony Blair, United Kingdom
U.S. Justice Sandra Day O’Conner (Three Portraits)
Justice Yvonne Kauger
Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices 2013
Chief Judge Robert Henry
Judge William J. Holloway, Jr.
Chief Judge Jerome A. Holmes
U.S. Congressman Tom Cole
Coach Barry Switzer, Dallas Cowboys and University of Oklahoma (Two Portraits)
Mr. T. Boone Pickens
Mrs. Allen Houser

Notable Commissions:

2025—Ghostzapper—Global Gaming Solutions (Lone Star Park)
2025—Welder—Global Gaming Solutions (Remington Park)
2024—National Native American Hall of Fame Ishtaboli/Stickball Tryptic—FanDuel (Paintings)
2024—Delaware Nation of Oklahoma Series: Turtle—APMEX (Coins)
2024–Lenape Deco Collection 2024–Delaware Nation of Oklahoma (Paintings)
2024—Hand To Hand—BMM Innovation Group (Painting)
2024—Asian Zodiac Series: Year of the Dragon—APMEX (Coins)
2023—Grand Buffalo—Oklahoma City—APMEX (Coins)
2023—Native Narratives: Chahta, Mvscogee, & Cherokee—Emser Tile
2023—Lenape Deco 2024–SCCG Management (Las Vegas, NV)
2023—Buffalo—Southwestern Oklahoma State University gift from Phil & Heather Busey
2022—Ultra Rush Gold featuring dg smalling—Incredible Technologies (Casino Game)
2022—Trickster—Skydance Brewery
2022—Native Narratives: Lenape Deco—Emser Tile
2022—Tëme/Wolf—Skydance Brewery & Delaware Nation of Oklahoma
2021—Our Future/Hapishki Vhlehvt Hapilaweli Na, Na Himona Okla Il Ikbit Maha_Yashke—Choctaw Nation Cultural Center
2021—Chief Black Beaver—Delaware Resource Group
2020—Abeka Apesvchi / Nurse—Oklahoma City University, School of Nursing
2020—Lady Justice of California Proclamation—Superior Court Judge Garen J. Horst
2020—Lady Justice Series—NBC Bank
2019—Operation Lady Justice—US Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (Washington, DC)
2019—Oklahoma Warrioress—Oklahoma 5th District Congresswoman Kendra Horn (US Congressional Building)
2018—Grand Buffalo—Commemorating Oklahoma City’s first Native American Mayor David Holt (OKC Mayor Suite)
2015—Hapoyksalechi / Reclamation Series—Choctaw Casino of Durant
2013—The Oklahoma 9—Oklahoma Supreme Court Portraits (Oklahoma Judicial Center)
2008—Gourd-Dancer—HSH Prince Albert of Monaco 50th birthday (Monaco)

Notable Exhibitions:

Notable Commissions:

Notable Exhibitions:

Upcoming—Spring Tea Ceremony, The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art (Washington, DG)
2023/4—Chickasaw Nation Land Ownership and British Government Treaties Project, Exhibit C (Oklahoma City, OK)
2020—Operation Lady Justice: The Visage of Modern Matriarchy, Oklahoma Hall of Fame (Oklahoma City, OK)
2018—Ikbi: Choctaw and Chickasaw Southeastern Cultural Art, Oklahoma Hall of Fame (Oklahoma City, OK)
2016—Diversity versus Identity? Values and Culture: Pluralism, Burn-In Gallery (Vienna, Austria)
2015—dg smalling studies, Exhibit C (Oklahoma City, OK)
2013—House of Law—Oklahoma Supreme Court, Glass & Aluminum Sculpture (Oklahoma, OK)
2012—Choctaw Codetalkers Celebration, National Museum of the American Indian
(Washington, DC)
2012—Glass Tipi—Sias Collection, Glass & Aluminum Sculpture (Oklahoma City, OK)
2011—Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture á l’Eau, Grand Palais (Paris, France)
2007—State of Oklahoma Centennial Show Featured Artist, Epcot Disney World

Commissions/Boards:

Corporate Collaborations:

Notable Exhibitions:

Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter (ASTEC)—Board Member
Choctaw Code Talkers Association—Former Vice President
Engage Learning—Former Board Member
Oklahoma City—Arts Commissioner
Renewing and Empowering Indigenous Narratives (REIGN)—Incoming Board Member

Corporate Collaborations:

Amazon/AWS
APMEX
BMM Innovation Group
Emser Tile
Encore Hospitality Carpet
FanDuel
Gary Platt Manufacturing
Gitchi Gaming
Global Gaming Solutions
Incredible Technologies
KlasRobinson QED
SCCG Management
Skydance Brewery

Affiliations:

Corporate Collaborations:

Delaware Nation of Oklahoma—Statute: “dg smalling may create with full faith and sanction any and all Delaware/Lenape designs” authorizing to create on their behalf using dg smalling’s Cultural Collaboration Strategy.
United States Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs—Operation Lady Justice
National Native American Hall of Fame

Multi-National Corporation & Tribal Association Case-Study:

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Goal: Strategic Relations

Solution: Cultural Collaboration

FanDuel is developing long term strategic relations with Tribal Gaming. As an effort to signal this intention, they initiated a proposed collaboration with the NNAHOF.

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

Strategic collaboration with the National Native American Hall of Fame and DG Smalling.

Deliverable

FanDuel initiated an online auction of a Tryptic by DG Smalling benefiting NNAHOF.

This was launched during the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association 2024 and promoted by FanDuel.

Tribal Nation Case-Study: Delaware Nation of Oklahoma

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Problem: Cultural Appropriation

Solution: Cultural Collaboration

The Delaware Nation of Oklahoma leadership issued a Statute authorizing dg smalling to “create with full faith and sanction any and all Delaware & Lenape designs”.

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

Collaborative BETA with Emser Tile

Delaware Nation of Oklahoma designs were incorporated by dg smalling with Emser Tile: Native Narratives in a commercial tile line based upon accurate interpretation called ‘Lenape Deco’.

Deliverable

Certification by the Delaware Nation of Oklahoma President Dotson and Vice-President McLane.

And currently being installed in the Delaware Nation of Oklahoma Museum and Cultural Center in Anadarko, Oklahoma.

Multi-National Private Mint: APMEX

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Asian Zodiac Series

Problem: Cultural Appropriation

Solution: Cultural Collaboration

APMEX and DG‘s 2nd collaboration celebrates the diverse interpretations and imagery centered around the Lunar New festivities.

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

DG consulted with Asian Community Leaders in Oklahoma City to ensure his Cultural Collaboration norms were followed.

This was particularly important, as he incorporated Choctaw Winged Serpent elements into the Dragon design.

Deliverable

Released in 2024, the first of the Asian Zodiac Series: The Dragon has been excellently received.

Tribal Citizen-Owned Case-Study: Skydance Brewery

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Problem: Cultural Appropriation

Solution: Cultural Collaboration

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

The Delaware Nation of Oklahoma leadership issued a Statute authorizing dg smalling to “create with full faith and sanction any and all Delaware & Lenape designs”.

Deliverable

Designs are incorporated by Skydance Brewery in a commercial beer series that serves as an on-going focus group of the process.

This is particularly important as Skydance Brewery is the only Native American-owned brewery in Oklahoma City.

Affiliations

Incredible Technologies

First Native American designed Casino Game Collaboration with Incredible Technologies.

A first-of-its-kind collaboration with a Choctaw Master Artist to bring you: Ultra Rush Gold Featuring the Art of D.G. Smalling™.

The gameplay players know and love remains the same: 30 lines of action showcase Smalling’s one-of-a-kind artwork packed into a thrilling game. Colorful images of panthers, horses, and a mighty buffalo bring the reels to life with Smalling’s own flair.

As the first gaming device to incorporate Indigenous art with the artist’s full collaboration, the unique art style and color palette of Smalling shines with IT’s smash-hit game features.

APMEX

Incredible Technologies

APMEX, an Oklahoma City-based global precious metals mint & retailer, partnered with Choctaw artist dg smalling to release an exclusive custom coin collection. The collaboration features:

Grand Buffalo—two iconic Oklahoma symbols of the Oklahoma City Grand Buffalo and the Osage Shield.
Asian Zodiac Series—debut—The Dragon

BMM Innovation Group

Incredible Technologies

Operation Lady Justice

BMM Innovation Group to Launch Partnership with Internationally Acclaimed Master Choctaw Artist DG Smalling.

BMM Innovation Group, a technology conglomerate providing world-class services and cutting-edge solutions to the global gaming industry announced a partnership with internationally acclaimed Choctaw Nation Master Artist DG Smalling that celebrates the Company’s relationship with Tribal suppliers, regulators, and operators.

Operation Lady Justice

Operation Lady Justice is a new federal task force that focuses on the many missing and murdered Native Americans and Alaska Natives, in particular women and children.
Established in November of 2019, efforts have been underway to address this tragedy befalling Native American communities.
Within the Lady Justice Operation, a division has developed dedicated to helping solve the many unsolved cases — cold cases — of mostly missing and murdered women and children.
Grants are also being issued by the DOJ to help improve the over-all safety in all Native American Nations.
The task force works with tribes to collaborate and help improve investigations, data sharing and all-around seamless communications to uncover the facts and restore justice.
ARTWORK of Lady Justice was created by D.G. Smalling of the Choctaw Nation. In his own words:
“She carries a shield of inter-locking arms as a symbolism of a battle standard to protect our people (and) under her shield we can reclaim our Native communities.”

—

https://cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/01-2021/cp_dispatch_jan_lady_justice.html

Emser Tile: Native Narrative

DG Smalling + Emser Tile judiciously promotes a sanctioned cultural identity by intentionally connecting historic references via design:

Casinos & Resorts
Dining Establishments
Waterparks
Cultural Centers
Health Clinics/Hospitals
Housing
Civic Buildings
Etc.

AISES—American Indian Science and Education Society 2024

“Rivers of Resiliency”:

AISES 2024 Sponsors Honor Gift
These are timeless and profound metaphors. Grand-Mother Spider as Technologist, Matriarch, and Advocate. We each see ourselves as that Man In Maze discerning our lives pathways from Birth, Life, to Death. And, the Blue of the River flows through the Maze.
Each represents our difficult task of discernment to Truth and Responsibility of Action. To gather in our networks’ web all salient data, weight of analysis & assessment of options, and options of action. There is nuance and craft at work in the fulfillment of Sustaining Indigenous Innovation.
The Resilience is remaining and continually choosing to return to Our ‘Indigeneity’.

Specializing in Line Works and Cultural Collaboration

Specializing in Line Works and Cultural Collaboration

Art From The Ashes

Think Thoroughly — Mark Once

Discipline

Expertise

Process

About dg smalling

Technique:

Method:

Professional Synopsis

Notable Portraits:

Notable Commissions:

Notable Commissions:

Notable Commissions:

Notable Commissions:

Notable Commissions:

Notable Exhibitions:

Notable Commissions:

Notable Exhibitions:

Commissions/Boards:

Corporate Collaborations:

Notable Exhibitions:

Corporate Collaborations:

Corporate Collaborations:

Corporate Collaborations:

Affiliations:

Corporate Collaborations:

Corporate Collaborations:

Cultural Collaboration — Versus — Cultural Appropriation

Multi-National Corporation & Tribal Association Case-Study:

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

Deliverable

Deliverable

Deliverable

Tribal Nation Case-Study: Delaware Nation of Oklahoma

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

Deliverable

Deliverable

Deliverable

Corporate Collaboration Case-Study: Emser Tile—Native Narrative

Multi-National Conglomerate Case-Study: Amazon

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

Deliverable

Deliverable

Deliverable

Multi-National Private Mint: APMEX

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

Deliverable

Deliverable

Deliverable

Casino Furniture Case-Study: Gary Platt Manufacturing

Vision

Deliverable

Approach

Approach

Deliverable

Approach

Deliverable

Deliverable