The Spirit of America runs deep in Nocona Parker Burgess. He is the son of Dr. Ron “Tacho” Burgess, former Chairman of the Comanche Nation, and the great-great grandson of the Last Comanche Chief, Quanah Parker.
Nokoni, as he is known to family and friends, grew up in a family of fine artists. His father is an accomplished artist as is his brother, Quahna Parker Burgess. His grandfather, Simmons Parker, was an artist, as was his grandmother, Ina Parker, an accomplished quilt maker. Great-gandmother Daisy Tachaco was a famous bead worker despite being blind.
In 1991 he received a Fine Arts Degree from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. He also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, with a major in studio painting and a minor in Native American Art History. For five years he worked in the gaming industry, eventually becoming a Casino manager. However, it was art – not gaming – that eventually took hold in his life. In 1996 he moved to Oklahoma to get back in touch with his people, his family, his heritage and his art. In 1999 he married fellow artist Danielle, and they moved back to Santa Fe. Within a year he was showing and selling his wonderful art not only in America, but also at shows in Holland, Belgium and Germany.
Nokoni is a regular participant and award winner at the Santa Fe Indian Market (he was the 2006 cover artist for The Santa Fean), and was recently selected for inclusion into the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. When he is not painting, Nokoni works as the Student Activities Coordinator at the Institute of American Indian Arts.
A world-famous artist and fine family man, Nokoni also writes music and poetry. He recently said: “I know that this is where I need to be in my life. I have come full circle and my passion for painting is alive in my soul.” This is the Spirit of America.
