Chad “Nish” Earles, from Oklahoma City, is a visual artist, designer, educator, and singer of traditional Caddo songs. He is a member of the Caddo Nation and President of the Caddo Culture Club - the longest-standing organization dedicated to preserving the tribe’s rich culture and traditions. Through the club, he helps organize and host dances and events, facilitates cultural education, and teaches Caddo song and dance. Chad is skilled in various art mediums, including painting, drawing, printmaking, and digital art. He also creates drums, regalia, beadwork, and other cultural items. His work has been exhibited at numerous art markets, galleries, museums, public murals, and cultural events across the United States. Since 2017, Chad has utilized his talents and skills to provide creative direction and design awareness materials for Native Alliance Against Violence. Chad teaches youth art classes at First Americans Museum’s FAMcamp and the Chickasaw Arts Academy. His work is currently available in-person at art markets, as well as First Americans Museum’s FAMstore in OKC and the Jacobson House Art Center in Norman.
See what I'm up to and more of my work on Instagram: @chadearles
Upcoming 2026 Events
- Jacobson House Fundraiser (49 NDN Art Rally Artist) at Culture Hub – OKC
- Caddo Graduate Dance hosted by Caddo Culture Club – Caddo Nation Dance Ground – May 16
- Caddo Culture Club Annual Dance – Caddo Nation Dance Ground – June 20
- Murrow’s Annual Dance – Gracemont, OK
- Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy (Painting Instructor) – Ada, OK
- Clara Brown Dance – Binger, OK
2026 Events
- Native Alliance Against Violence Fashion Show (Invited Artist/Designer) – Anadarko, OK
- Mvskoke Art Market – Tulsa, OK
- Southeastern Art Show & Market (SEASAM) – Tishomingo, OK
- Hushtola Art Market (OKANA Waterpark & Resort) – OKC
- Caddo Culture Club Weekly Song/Dance Practices & Culture Classes – Binger, OK
- Kickapoo Cultural Exchange Annual Dance (Caddo Culture Club Guest Drum & Dancers) – McLoud, OK
- American Indian Exposition Parade (Caddo Culture Club Float – Anadarko, OK
- Caddo Conference (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – Natchitoches, LA
- Caddo Nation ICW Event (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) - Apache, OK
2025 Events
- Jacobson House Holiday Art Market – Norman, OK
- Native Farming Solutions & Culture Hub Winter Solstice Market/Gathering – OKC
- Hushtola Art Market – OKANA Resort – OKC (Best of 2-Dimensional & 2nd in Printmaking)
- Jacobson House Art Biennial 2025 – Norman, OK
- FAM Winter Holiday Art Market – First Americans Museum – OKC (2nd in Graphics & 3rd in Painting/Drawing)
- Southeastern Art Show & Market (SEASAM) – Tishomingo, OK (1st place in Graphic Arts)
- Clara Brown Dance – Binger, OK
- Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy (Painting Instructor) – Ada, OK
- Murrow’s Annual Dance – Gracemont, OK
- Caddo Culture Club Annual Dance – Binger, OK
- Caddo Culture Club Song/Dance Practices & Culture Classes – Binger, OK
- FAMcamp (Native Design Studio Instructor) at First Americans Museum – OKC
- Caddo Culture Club Graduate Dance – Binger, OK
- Kickapoo Cultural Exchange Annual Dance (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – McLoud, OK
- Living Traditions Community Fair at Culture Hub (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition)
- Mvskoke Art Market at River Spirit Casino – Tulsa, OK
- Indian Time Art Exhibition at Uncanny Art House – Norman, OK
- Caddo Conference (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition)
2024 Events
- Hustola Art Market – WinStar World Casino
- First Americans Museum Winter Holiday Art Market (FAM WHAM) – OKC
- The Jacobson House Holiday Art Market – Norman, OK
- Clara Brown Dance – Binger, OK
- Southeastern Art Show & Market (SEASAM) – Tishomingo, OK
- Indigenous Peoples Day (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) at First Americans Museum – OKC
- American Indian Exposition & Parade (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – Anadarko, OK
- Mvskoke Art Market – Tulsa, OK
- Hushtola' Art Market (WinStar World Casino and Resort) – Thackerville, OK
- FAMstore Artist at First Americans Museum – OKC
- Moon Terrace Mural at First Americans Museum – OKC
- Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Gallery Retrospective of Miniatures at Exhibit C Gallery – OKC
- FAMcamp Spring (Mural/Street Art Instructor) at First Americans Museum – OKC
- FAMcamp Summer (Mural/Street Art Instructor) at First Americans Museum – OKC
- FAMcamp Summer (Native Design Studio Instructor) at First Americans Museum – OKC
- Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy (Digital Art Instructor) – Ada, OK
- Caddo Culture Club Annual Dance – Binger, OK
- Caddo Culture Club Graduation Dance – Binger, OK
- Caddo Nation Princess Dance – Binger, OK
- Caddo Culture Club Weekly Song/Dance Practices & Culture Classes – Binger, OK
- Murrow’s Annual Dance – Gracemont, OK
- Kickapoo Cultural Exchange Annual Dance (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – McLoud, OK
- Caddo Conference (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – Fayetteville, AR
- Indigenous Pop Expo (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) at First Americans Museum (FAM) – OKC
- Bridging the Gap Conference hosted by Caddo Nation (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – OKC
2023 Events
- Caddo Culture Club Annual Dance – Binger, OK
- Caddo Culture Club Graduation Dance – Binger, OK
- Caddo Culture Club Weekly Song/Dance Practices & Culture Classes – Binger, OK
- Kickapoo Annual Dance (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – McLoud, OK
- Indigenous Peoples Day (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) at First Americans Museum – OKC
- American Indian Exposition & Parade (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – Anadarko, OK
- McKee's Indian Store Opening Reception (Caddo Culture Club Dance & Art Exhibition) – Anadarko, OK
- Murrow’s Annual Annual Dance (Caddo Culture Club, Caddo Drum) – Gracemont, OK
- Clara Brown Dance (Caddo Culture Club, Caddo Drum) – Binger, OK
- Red Earth (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – OKC, OK
- Human Trafficking Awareness Candlelight Vigil at FAM (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – OKC
- FAMcamp Summer (Mural/Street Art Instructor) at First Americans Museum (FAM) – OKC
- FAMcamp Winter (Painting Art Instructor) at First Americans Museum – OKC
- FAM Winter Holiday Art Market at First Americans Museum – OKC
- FAMstore Artist at First Americans Museum – OKC
- Chickasaw Summer Art Academy (Digital Art Instructor) – Ada, OK
- Southeastern Art Show & Market (SEASAM) – Tishomingo, OK
- Hushtola' Art Market (WinStar World Casino and Resort) – Thackerville, OK
- 21st Century Art Exhibition Juror (Jacobson House) – Norman, OK
- Mvskoke Art Market – Tulsa, OK
2022 Events
- May the 4th Star Wars Day Art Exhibition at FAM – OKC
- FAM Winter Holiday Art Market – OKC
- FAMstore Artist – OKC
- Southeastern Art Show & Market (SEASAM) – Tishomingo, OK
- Tulane University NOCGS Indigenous Symposium Speaker – New Orleans, LA
- Caddo Festival at FAM (Head Singer) – OKC
- Caddo Culture Club Dance – Binger, OK
- Caddo Culture Club Graduation Dance – Binger, OK
- Clara Brown Dance – Binger, OK
- Murrow's Annual Dance – Gracemont, OK
- Kickapoo Annual Dance (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – McLoud, OK
- Dallas Museum of Art, Late Nights Event (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – Dallas, TX
- NSU Folk Festival (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition) – Natchitoches, LA
- Caddo Conference – Natchitoches, OK
- International Festival (Caddo Culture Club Dance Exhibition)– Lawton, OK
- 2015 Louisiana State Museum art acquisition for permanent collection
- 2016 Caddo grass house build & sole apprentice to Caddo elder Phil Cross
- 2016 OKC Downtown/Bricktown underpass mural titled Earth & Sky
- 2021 The Momentary, Crystal Bridges Museum permanent glass art installation titled Above & Below
- 2022 Dallas Museum of Art, art exhibition
- 2024 Moon Terrace Mural titled Ina Wahdut koo Nish (Earth Mother & Moon) at First Americans Museum – OKC