Photo by Maia Truesdale-Scott, 2014
Toni Truesdale
Muralist, Painter, Illustrator, Printmaker, Educator
About Toni Truesdale (1948–2021)
Toni Truesdale was an acclaimed artist, illustrator, educator, and activist whose work spanned more than five decades. Her prolific body of work includes over 500 paintings, 20 large-scale murals, countless drawings, and a refined command of printmaking techniques such as woodblock printing and etching.
Her distinct style was cultivated over decades of study, starting from the tradition of European realists and influenced by the exploration of the divine feminine—drawing from history, mythology, and culture to craft deeply symbolic and powerful visual narratives.
As an activist, she used her art to highlight social injustice and civil rights, believing in the transformative power of creativity. Toni was also a passionate educator, teaching in both public and private institutions—from inner-city schools to Native reservations—with the goal of empowering students to express themselves and discover their unique artistic voices.
Artist Statement:
“History and mythology need to
Include the unrestricted stories of all women.
The female perspective should be reflected in aesthetics, values, spirituality and morality.
I develop imagery that shows the natural beauty and intelligence
In aspects of the multicultural life of
Sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, grandmothers all;
And celebrate our commonality through time.”
Illustration from Dinky Series, 2013-2014 shown
Illustration
As well as being a fine artist, muralist, and printmaker, Toni also worked as a commercial artist and illustrator. Her credits include original illustrations for a range of notable publishers, including We'Moon calendars and datebooks (2002–2014), for which she created both cover and back cover art. Her work also appeared in Win Magazine, The Other Side Magazine, the American Friends Service Committee, 1199 Trade Union, Harrisburg Independent Press, Akwesasne Notes, Friends Journal, Calyx Magazine, Kalliope Magazine (cover), and the Museum of New Mexico Educational Resources Guide (cover). Her illustrations were also featured in The Guardian newspaper, The Detroit Free Press, and many others.
Before her passing, Toni collaborated with the New Mexico Department of Health on The Dinky Series—a collection of illustrated books designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity for early readers.
Photo by Maia Truesdale-Scott, 2014
Educator
Toni was a dedicated educator with over 30 years of experience teaching art, vocational subjects, and literacy in various educational settings. Her career included roles such as Commercial Art and Vocational Education teacher in the School District of Philadelphia for a decade (1983–1993), followed by two years teaching literacy, GED, and adult education to at-risk Native American youth at Intermountain Youth Center in Santa Fe, NM. From 2000 to 2006, she taught Commercial Art at Santo Domingo Middle School in the Bernalillo Public Schools, and from 2006 to 2013, she worked across the Culinary Arts, Business, and Art programs at the Santa Fe Indian School. Toni spent her career sharing her artistic expertise in multicultural and intergenerational settings, including public, private, and parochial schools, through in-classroom settings to symposiums. She generously gave her time and creativity to students of all ages and backgrounds. She was committed to empowering students through creative expression and practical skills and left a lasting impact on the communities she served.