Artist Steph Littlebird steps into authorship with 'You Are the Land' * Oregon ArtsWatch

"Littlebird first gained attention as an illustrator through her work with acclaimed authors, including several Indigenous writers. Her artwork has become recognizable for its vibrant color, graphic imagery, and visual references to ancestry integrated with contemporary sensibility. Recent projects include illustrating Fierce Aunties! (2025) by Laurel Goodluck and The Summer of the Bone Horses (2025) by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, as well as designing the cover art for The Buffalo Hunter Hunter (2025) by Stephen Graham Jones."

"Littlebird's background is deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest, a region that has shaped both her personal and professional life. She grew up in the area and earned a degree in the arts from Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland. She is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, with ancestral roots in the Atfalati Kalapuya and Clatsop Chinook tribes from the northern Willamette Valley. After spending several years in Nevada, she recently returned to live in Oregon."

"During her time away, Littlebird became increasingly aware of how central her home was to her art. "This is where my Indigenous community exists, where my actual people come from," she said. "And so, this place is so special. And one of my favorite things to do is teach people about why it is so special." Through her practice, she brings underrepresented perspectives into broader conversation"

Steph Littlebird released You Are the Land on Feb. 24 as her first work created as both writer and illustrator. Her illustration work gained attention through collaborations with acclaimed, often Indigenous, authors and is known for vibrant color, graphic imagery, and visual references to ancestry integrated with contemporary sensibility. Recent projects include illustrating Fierce Aunties!, The Summer of the Bone Horses, and designing the cover for The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Her illustrated work on My Powerful Hair earned the 2024 Carter G. Woodson Book Award. Littlebird grew up in the Pacific Northwest, is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and recently returned to Oregon.

Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News