Hattie Lee Mendoza (b. 1990) is a multi-disciplinary artist who grew up in Fowler, Kansas, and now lives in Peoria, Illinois. She has an MFA from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and a BA in graphic design from Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS.

Influenced by her Great Grandmother and namesake’s Cherokee heritage and stories, Mendoza revives and continues that legacy within her family after generational loss of cultural connection.

A member of the Cherokee Nation, my process is a personal expression of the Native American Diaspora. I utilize found or gifted fibers and objects while incorporating Cherokee basketry, pottery, or beadwork patterns. I myself am a collage of cultures and react by collaging materials from my ancestors, contemporary community, and personal life experiences.