About Jessica Leigh Gokey
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Jessica Gokey is from the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe near Hayward, WI and lives near the Reservation along with her husband and two children. She has been beading for more than 10 years. As a child, Jessica watched her aunt do beadwork, which was passed down to her by an elder. Over the years she has perfected her technique due to other artists and elders sharing their ideas and tips.“
It is Jessica’s desire to be of service by giving of her time and knowledge to teach beadwork to community members near and far. As an Ojibwe woman, it is very important to her to keep the tradition of beadwork alive and doing beadwork is a huge part of her life. Jessica is expanding her geographical teaching scope to include interested community and arts organizations by her willingness to travel and teach classes and workshops to their patrons and community members. Jessica’s beadwork of fine art can be found in local art galleries and she has been commissioned to create Fine Art pieces for collectors. |
"It is through my beadwork that I keep Ojibwe traditions alive by incorporating Ojibwe floral patterns. I strongly believe that sharing my knowledge of traditional Ojibwe beadwork helps to preserve a traditional art form for future generations.”
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Awards and Accolades
Artist and Native American Events
2022- Ancient Indigenous Monuments and Modern Indigenous Art Residency Project at Ohio State University.
2022 - US Embassy to the Vatican, Exhibit, "A Dance with Florals". Chosen by United State Ambassador to the Vatican.
2021-2022- collaboration with Teton trade cloth- floral fabric design
2016-2021: Floral designs commissioned and published in Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife: Mazina’igan
2015-2021: Published the online beading course “How to Create Ojibwe Floral Beadwork”, hosted on CourseCraft. Over 200 student enrolled from US and Canada.
2021- collaboration with Teton Trade Cloth, Taboo (Black Eye Peas), Jessica Gokey(designer); launched “Kushala Spirit Rider Bandana design.
2021; Fond Du Lac Community College; wrote and helped create courses-ART 1101 Ojbwe Floral Beadwork 1, 2, and 3.
2020- Tiwahe foundation Family Empowerment Program Grantee
2018 University of Michigan used Jessica Gokey beadwork images for their official Native American Heritage Month T-shirts.
2016 Collaboration with Tammy Beauvis Designs- Launched the Matriarch Clothing Line; features “Celebration of Spring” beadwork images.
2015 SAGE 12th Annual National Training Program publication featured Jessica Gokey images from “Native Accent Table Cloth”, 2015.
2015 Self-published: Amazon - “ A Floral Journey: A Floral Coloring Adventure"
2014 Minnesota Historical Society Artist in Residence Program
2013 Best Traditional Artist Anishinaabe Art and Culture Festival
2022- Ancient Indigenous Monuments and Modern Indigenous Art Residency Project at Ohio State University.
2022 - US Embassy to the Vatican, Exhibit, "A Dance with Florals". Chosen by United State Ambassador to the Vatican.
2021-2022- collaboration with Teton trade cloth- floral fabric design
2016-2021: Floral designs commissioned and published in Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife: Mazina’igan
2015-2021: Published the online beading course “How to Create Ojibwe Floral Beadwork”, hosted on CourseCraft. Over 200 student enrolled from US and Canada.
2021- collaboration with Teton Trade Cloth, Taboo (Black Eye Peas), Jessica Gokey(designer); launched “Kushala Spirit Rider Bandana design.
2021; Fond Du Lac Community College; wrote and helped create courses-ART 1101 Ojbwe Floral Beadwork 1, 2, and 3.
2020- Tiwahe foundation Family Empowerment Program Grantee
2018 University of Michigan used Jessica Gokey beadwork images for their official Native American Heritage Month T-shirts.
2016 Collaboration with Tammy Beauvis Designs- Launched the Matriarch Clothing Line; features “Celebration of Spring” beadwork images.
2015 SAGE 12th Annual National Training Program publication featured Jessica Gokey images from “Native Accent Table Cloth”, 2015.
2015 Self-published: Amazon - “ A Floral Journey: A Floral Coloring Adventure"
2014 Minnesota Historical Society Artist in Residence Program
2013 Best Traditional Artist Anishinaabe Art and Culture Festival