Lyn Risling

Lyn Risling is an artist whose work is deeply connected to the cultures of her paternal grandparents—the Karuk, Yurok, and Hupa peoples of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers in Northern California. Descendants of ceremonial and cultural leaders, her father's family has long been involved in traditional tribal arts, including basket weaving and ceremonial regalia, as well as contemporary art forms. Lyn was influenced early on by artists on both sides of her family; her mother and grandmother were illustrators and painters.

Lyn has actively participated in her Native culture for many years. As an adult, she began creating traditional regalia, including her daughter's ceremonial dress, and became a key figure in the renewal of tribal ceremonies. In the 1990s, Lyn and her partner, Julian Lang, initiated the return of the Karuk girls' puberty ceremony—a tradition that had been dormant for over 100 years. Several years ago, she received a woman's "One Eleven" chin tattoo, a practice that had nearly died out. She shares, "I received my tattoo in honor of my female ancestors. I feel it is also a deep commitment and responsibility to my culture."