Big Chief Demond Melancon

Demond Melancon, known as 'Big Chief,' is a New Orleans-based artist and Mardi Gras Indian chief of the Young Seminole Hunters tribe whose intricate beadwork panels have gained significant recognition in the contemporary art world. His monumental hand-sewn beadwork pieces draw on the centuries-old tradition of Black Masking Indians, transforming ceremonial regalia into large-scale narrative artworks that address African American history, identity, and resistance. His work has been exhibited and sold through major auction houses and galleries, bridging the gap between folk tradition and fine art.