Francis Blackbear Bosin was born at Cyril, Caddo County, OK on June 5, 1921 to parents Frank Blackbear Bosin Jr., of the Kiowas and Ada Tivis , a Comanche. His Kiowa name Tsate Kongia, which means black bear, was also his paternal grandfather's name, who was a Kiowa chief. He attended St. Patrick's Mission School in Anadarko, OK. Bosin was influenced by works of Kiowa artists from early to mid 20th century, among them being Stephen Mopope, Jack Hokeah, Monroe Tsatoke, James Auchiah, Spencer Asah and Lois Smoky. Most of these artists had also attended the mission school.
At a young age, Bosin married Ruth Johnson and had two daughters in Oklahoma. The family moved to Wichita in 1940 and two sons were added to the family. To support his growing family he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, but during this time he and Ruth divorced.
During a hospitalization while in the Marine Corps, he resumed painting, which he continued after returning to Wichita in 1946. He worked at Western Lithograph, McConnell Air Force Base and Boeing in Wichita. After returning to Wichita he began to enter his works in art competitions, winning many awards and by 1955 had a painting featured in the National Geographic magazine. While working at Boeing, he met Nola Simmonds, an art teacher, and they were later married.
In 1959 he opened the Great Plains Studio and participated in many exhibitions, with numerous awards being received for his work. The most visible of his works in Wichita is a 44-foot sculpture, titled The Keeper of the Plains, that sits at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers.
Bosin continued to paint, but vision losses later in life, lessened his ability to paint quickly. On August 9, 1980, Francis Blackbear Bosin passed away, due to heart problems and was buried at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita, KS.
At a young age, Bosin married Ruth Johnson and had two daughters in Oklahoma. The family moved to Wichita in 1940 and two sons were added to the family. To support his growing family he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, but during this time he and Ruth divorced.
During a hospitalization while in the Marine Corps, he resumed painting, which he continued after returning to Wichita in 1946. He worked at Western Lithograph, McConnell Air Force Base and Boeing in Wichita. After returning to Wichita he began to enter his works in art competitions, winning many awards and by 1955 had a painting featured in the National Geographic magazine. While working at Boeing, he met Nola Simmonds, an art teacher, and they were later married.
In 1959 he opened the Great Plains Studio and participated in many exhibitions, with numerous awards being received for his work. The most visible of his works in Wichita is a 44-foot sculpture, titled The Keeper of the Plains, that sits at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers.
Bosin continued to paint, but vision losses later in life, lessened his ability to paint quickly. On August 9, 1980, Francis Blackbear Bosin passed away, due to heart problems and was buried at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita, KS.
Francis Blackbear Bosin was born at Cyril, Caddo County, OK on June 5, 1921 to parents Frank Blackbear Bosin Jr., of the Kiowas and Ada Tivis , a Comanche. His Kiowa name Tsate Kongia, which means black bear, was also his paternal grandfather's name, who was a Kiowa chief. He attended St. Patrick's Mission School in Anadarko, OK. Bosin was influenced by works of Kiowa artists from early to mid 20th century, among them being Stephen Mopope, Jack Hokeah, Monroe Tsatoke, James Auchiah, Spencer Asah and Lois Smoky. Most of these artists had also attended the mission school.
At a young age, Bosin married Ruth Johnson and had two daughters in Oklahoma. The family moved to Wichita in 1940 and two sons were added to the family. To support his growing family he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, but during this time he and Ruth divorced.
During a hospitalization while in the Marine Corps, he resumed painting, which he continued after returning to Wichita in 1946. He worked at Western Lithograph, McConnell Air Force Base and Boeing in Wichita. After returning to Wichita he began to enter his works in art competitions, winning many awards and by 1955 had a painting featured in the National Geographic magazine. While working at Boeing, he met Nola Simmonds, an art teacher, and they were later married.
In 1959 he opened the Great Plains Studio and participated in many exhibitions, with numerous awards being received for his work. The most visible of his works in Wichita is a 44-foot sculpture, titled The Keeper of the Plains, that sits at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers.
Bosin continued to paint, but vision losses later in life, lessened his ability to paint quickly. On August 9, 1980, Francis Blackbear Bosin passed away, due to heart problems and was buried at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita, KS.
At a young age, Bosin married Ruth Johnson and had two daughters in Oklahoma. The family moved to Wichita in 1940 and two sons were added to the family. To support his growing family he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, but during this time he and Ruth divorced.
During a hospitalization while in the Marine Corps, he resumed painting, which he continued after returning to Wichita in 1946. He worked at Western Lithograph, McConnell Air Force Base and Boeing in Wichita. After returning to Wichita he began to enter his works in art competitions, winning many awards and by 1955 had a painting featured in the National Geographic magazine. While working at Boeing, he met Nola Simmonds, an art teacher, and they were later married.
In 1959 he opened the Great Plains Studio and participated in many exhibitions, with numerous awards being received for his work. The most visible of his works in Wichita is a 44-foot sculpture, titled The Keeper of the Plains, that sits at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers.
Bosin continued to paint, but vision losses later in life, lessened his ability to paint quickly. On August 9, 1980, Francis Blackbear Bosin passed away, due to heart problems and was buried at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita, KS.
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