RED EARTH ANNOUNCES KORTNI TORRALBA AS 2025 EMERGING ARTIST AWARD RECIPIENT

Oklahoma City, OK - Red Earth, Inc. is proud to announce Kortni Torralba, a Citizen Potawatomi Nation artist, as the recipient of the 2025 Red Earth Emerging Artist Award. Established in 2018, this award recognizes talented Native artists in the early stages of their careers, providing them with opportunities to showcase their work at the award-winning Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City. By supporting emerging artists, Red Earth helps sustain and celebrate the rich traditions of Native art and culture.

Torralba’s work is deeply influenced by the traditions, stories, and spiritual practices of her Native heritage. Through painting, drawing, collage, and sculpture, she explores the connection between land, community, and identity. Her art blends traditional symbols, natural materials such as tobacco, stone, and glass, and contemporary techniques to create works that honor both personal and collective histories. By incorporating photographic elements and organic materials, she bridges the past with the present, reflecting the evolving nature of Indigenous expression.

Since 2022, Torralba has been developing her skills in painting and sculpture, working to refine her artistic voice and expand her creative practice. In 2024, she began sharing her work publicly for the first time, gaining valuable experience and confidence in presenting her art to new audiences, and while still early in her journey, she is excited to continue growing as an artist.

In addition to her work as an artist, Torralba is an accomplished educator, dedicated to empowering and inspiring her students. With nearly two decades of experience in education, she has received multiple teaching honors, including being named Moore Public Schools Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. Recognized for her innovative and compassionate approach to teaching, she has made a lasting impact on the lives of countless young people.

As the 2025 Red Earth Emerging Artist Award recipient, Torralba will receive a booth space at the Red Earth Festival Art Market, an opportunity to compete in the festival’s juried art competition, and a stipend to assist with expenses. She will be honored in a special awards ceremony on March 20, 2025, recognizing her artistic achievements and dedication to cultural expression.

The Red Earth Festival, taking place March 21-23, 2025, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, is a premier event celebrating Native art, dance, and culture. The festival features a juried art market showcasing Indigenous artists from across the country, along with dance performances and cultural demonstrations that highlight the vibrancy of Native traditions.

General admission day tickets are $20 and include access to the Red Earth Art Market, general admission seating for the Red Earth Dance Showcases, and full access to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. A $45 three-day ticket is also available, providing attendees with the opportunity to experience the festival and museum throughout the weekend. Children 5 and under are admitted free of charge with a paid adult.

Red Earth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and an Allied Arts member agency. This project was supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts along with Chickasaw Nation, KFOR, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, OKC Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oklahoma City Community Foundation, The James H. & Madalynne Norick Foundation, Tinker Federal Credit Union and Native American Center for Cancer Health Excellence (NACCHE). Red Earth’s mission extends beyond the festival, encompassing education, a museum collection, and fine art markets, all aimed at advancing the understanding and continuation of Native American culture and arts.

For more information about the Red Earth Festival and Kortni Torralba’s recognition as the 2025 Emerging Artist, please visit www.RedEarth.org or contact Red Earth, Inc. at (405) 427-5228.

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The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The agency’s mission is to lead in the advancement of Oklahoma’s thriving arts industry. The Oklahoma Arts Council provides hundreds of grants to organizations in communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state’s arts and cultural sector, and manages the art collections at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Additional information is available at arts.ok.gov.