Picturing American Indian Cultures: The Art of Kentucky’s Frederick Weygold

This comprehensive exhibition features highlights from the Speed’s Native American Indian collection, along with paintings, drawings and photographs by Louisville artist and ethnographer Frederick Weygold. Although Weygold’s work as an illustrator, photographer and collector of Native American art is highly regarded in Europe, he remains virtually unknown in the U.S. This exhibition offers for the first time a thorough account of this remarkable man and his achievements.

Born in St. Charles, Missouri, Weygold studied art and languages in Germany before settling in Louisville in 1908. In Europe (perhaps triggered by visits to Wild West shows), Weygold became fascinated with American Indians and, by teaching himself the Lakota language and acquiring a substantial knowledge of Native American cultures, he was able to act as an advisor to European museum directors.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.