Lecture on Hart Merriam Schultz, also known by his Blackfoot name, Lone Wolf (Nitoh Mahkwii or Ni-tah-mah-kwi-i), was an Indian artist of the twentieth century. Most of his work was done in either Arizona or Montana, after he completed his artistic studies in Los Angeles and Chicago. He would spend his summers in a tipi studio in Montana, and his winters in Arizona, either in Tucson, or at the studio his father created for him at Butterfly Lodge, in Greer, Arizona.

While living on his parents’ ranch he learned the skills necessary to work as a cowboy and ranch hand. With his mother’s death in 1903 he left the ranch and traveled south, finally ending up near the Grand Canyon, where he worked as a cowboy, wrangler, and guide, as well as continuing to practice his art.^[6] While at the Canyon, he met Thomas Moran, who encouraged the young man to pursue his art.^[5] In 1909 he went to Los Angeles, where he began working in the fledgling film industry, appearing in the one-reelers of James Young Deer. Young Deer was the first American Indian filmmaker and producer in Hollywood, making films for Pathe Films.^[7] While in Los Angeles, he was reunited with his father, who had remarried in 1907. He lived with his father and step-mother while in Los Angeles.^[8] After his brief stint in film, due to the influence of Thomas Moran, he studied art at the Los Angeles Artist Student League. Following that, he continued his art studies in Chicago at the Chicago Art Institute in 1914–15.^[6][9] After leaving Chicago, he returned to Montana, where he worked on the Galbaith Ranch. While there, In 1916, he met the daughter of the ranch’s foreman, Naoma Tracy (also known as Naomi). He courted her for a single day before taking her by horseback to Cut Bank, where they were married by a justice of the peace. The two remained married until his death in 1970.^[6][5]

Join Dr. Tricia Loscher, Chief Curator & the Dita and John Daub Curator of Western Women’s Art as she tells the true story of a larger-than-life character of the American West.

Photo and text from Wikipedia and Wikipedia Commons. Pictured: Explorer James Willard Schultz and his son, artist, cowboy, rancher Lone Wolf.