Tallgrass Prairie

by Wayne Cooper

The tallgrass prairie was one of North America's major ecosystems originally spanning portions of 14 states and covering over 142 million acres. It was a complex landscape, harboring a rich diversity of plants and animals, that was shaped by nature.

Today, less than 10% of the original tallgrass prairie remains. Most of it has been converted to farmland. Large, unbroken tracts of tallgrass prairie only exist now in the Flint Hills of Oklahoma and Kansas. In 1989, the Nature Conservancy purchased the 29,000 acre Barnard Ranch as the cornerstone of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. The Preserve now consists of 38,600 acres of land owned or leased by The Nature Conservancy. The Conservancy's goal is to recreate a functioning tallgrass prairie ecosystem using controlled burns and bison. In 1993, 300 bison were reintroduced and will eventually grow to a herd of 3,200 animals freely roaming on 32,000 acres of preserve.

Tallgrass Prairie by Wayne Cooper was dedicated on October 2, 2001. The commission was managed by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc.

The painting is is located near the Northwest stairwell on the fifth floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol and can be viewed daily from 8:30-5:30.

The Artist

Wayne Cooper is an acknowledged national painter known for his portrayals of Western and American Indian subjects. He comes from a background of Indian heritage and was raised on a small ranch gaining first hand knowledge of Oklahoma ranch life.

Cooper is listed in Artists USA, Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in American Art, International Who’s Who in Art and Antiques, Universal Directory of the Art and Personalities of the Americas, and others.

His works consist of oils, water colors, charcoals, pencil, sculpture (bronzes) and lithographs. His works are held in many private and public collections worldwide, including the halls of the Oklahoma State Senate and House of Representatives.