An exhibit of sketches, drawings, and prints by artist Theo Tso.
Theo Tso is an enrolled member of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and also has ties to the Navajo (Diné). He is also the creative mind behind Captain Paiute: Indigenous Defender of the Southwest. Captain Paiute wields the power of Pah (water) and grapples with evil men, like Bad Medicine.
As a youth, Tso was drawn into the world of comic book superheroes and villains. However, he noticed the absence of strong Indigenous characters and saw that most Native Americans were sidekicks or stereotypical mystics. While still in high school, he envisioned Captain Paiute as a corrective to the lack of representation typically found in traditional comic books, cartoons, and movies. Tso took years honing his craft and sharpening his skills with the pencil and now draws amazing images that spark the imagination.
Today, Tso is the owner and operator of War Paint Studios, which houses Captain Paiute Comics. In 2021, the Nevada State Museum featured his story boards in the Find Your Folklife: We Are ‘the Folk’ All of Us exhibition. The artist has also worked on issues of Masked Men and Peace Party, and his artwork has been featured in Phil Yea’s Winged Tiger series. While Tso collaborates with a number of other comic book artists and writers, including the Indigenous Narratives Collective, he is also working on the continuing saga of Captain Paiute for future comic book releases. Blending this eye-catching art form with tradition and current social issues, such as land and water preservation, Tso is helping to keep the culture alive.
On exhibit at the Sahara West Library from December 8, 2023 through February 24, 2024
Reception Thursday, December 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Tuesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Add a comment to: The Art of Theo Tso, Creator of Captain Paiute Comics