Artist: Brooke Ochs
Title: Lozen
Media: Original Gouache Collage
Size: 8 x 10 in.
Artist Statment:
This new piece is a painting of Lozen, an N’de (Apache) warrior who ignored gender expectations to become a fierce warrior who fought to protect her people from Mexican and American colonizers. She fought alongside her brother Victorio and Geronimo.
Lozen was said to have mystical powers that alerted her to the direction of enemies. Her brother called her a “shield” to her people and she was a healer, shaman, and a horse thief. 
In this painting, Lozen is pictured sitting proudly atop a horse in front of the Animas Mountains in New Mexico, which is where Lozen may have been born.
She is in a river as a nod to when she escorted women and children across the Rio Grande. Lozen holds a rifle over her head because of the quote by James Kaywaykla, who was a child during this crossing (history.com) where he describes her as a “‘magnificent woman’ on a beautiful horse, holding a rifle above her head.”
While I cannot claim an understanding or personal connection to Lozen and the N’de people, I was deeply emotional reading about this warrior who fought so hard to save her people.
The N’de people battled the US army for 24 years. Can you imagine fighting so hard to survive and exist… to be left in peace?! I feel so angry and heartbroken that it was necessary and that attitudes that encouraged this still exist and shape policy today.
Lozen died from TB whilst captive and never made it back to New Mexico. She was so brave and powerful and I hope this painting honors her.
The surrounding designs include black, yellow, red, and white squares that represent the N’de teachings of the four directions and how they connect to health. The designs also include tickseed flowers that are native to New Mexico.