Fritz Scholder (American 1937–2005) was a painter and printmaker known for his provocative, expressionist approach to Native American imagery. Born in Breckenridge, Minnesota, and a member of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, he studied at Sacramento State University (BA) and the University of Arizona (MFA), where he was influenced by artists such as Wayne Thiebaud and Oscar Howe. Scholder taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and became a central figure in redefining contemporary Native art. His work blends Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art sensibilities to challenge romanticized stereotypes of Indigenous identity, often using bold color, distortion, and psychological intensity to reframe cultural narratives.