D. Ahsén:nase Douglas is a Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) painter, children’s storybook author, educator, and urban NDN with roots in Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory. He works primarily with oil on canvas and describes himself as a figurative painter whose work, while exploring Indigenous themes, does not follow the rigid characteristics of what is stereotypically considered “Indigenous Art” within the context of a commercial North America.

His culture, he states “…is an abundant source of creative expression” that helps him to entwine traditional values and experiences within contemporary subject matter.

The artist’s work currently explores Indigenous identity, culture, perspectives, and stories through the “figure” as well as characterizations. His paintings can be found within private and public collections across Canada and the United States, as well as Australia.

He is self-taught with formal training in art history and visual design, photography, computer science, social science, and education. As an Indigenous Artist in Residence for the YRDSB he has been given the opportunity to share his art, culture, and stories with a variety of students over the years.

Ahsén:nase is also recognized by the Ontario Arts Council as well as the Canada Council for the Arts as a professional “Indigenous and Visual Artist”.

While he finds it amusing to watch people try to pronounce his Kanien’keha:ka name, he simply asks to be called “Dee”.