“Indigenous Brilliance” by Joseph Erb, a two-story mural in the main entryway of the First Americans Museum
ALUMNI
Through Canvas And Tech, Artist Promotes Native American Heritage BY ROD JON E S
Joseph Erb
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FROM LARGE SCULPTURES TO GRAPHIC animation to geocaching notable locations along the Trail of Tears, artist Joseph Erb (BFA Studio Art ’97) has a variety of ways to preserve and promote his Cherokee heritage. Even the diversity of style in his various animation projects makes it hard to believe it’s all from the same artist. “I was one of those people who had a dream as a kid and kept with it for the rest of my life,” he said. As an asthmatic child in allergy-prone Oklahoma, Erb said he spent more than his fair share of sick time on the couch at home. “So I drew all the time. I always enjoyed the narrative process and excelled in art classes,” he said. His artistic abilities were apparent right away. He was winning with (and selling) his work since he was 7 or 8 years old. He competed in art shows throughout junior
Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
high and high school, gathering first-place awards along the way. When it came time to pursue a higher education, Erb had narrowed his options to three: Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma City University, where his mother earned a degree. He chose OCU after visiting with professors and administrators, who demonstrated a dedicated interest in Erb’s success from his very first visit through graduation day. “The smaller class sizes and attention from professors means a lot to a young artist. It means so much when you’re engaging directly with professors who are also professional artists themselves,” he noted. During his undergraduate days, Erb landed an internship with sculptor David Phelps, who has created
