Home Artist Programs Supported Artists Big Chief Tyrone “Pie” Stevenson

Big Chief Tyrone “Pie” Stevenson

Slidell, Louisiana

Sew, Sew, Sew is a photo showing detail of hands sewing beads of many colors and shapes onto a medallion in a concentric pattern.

Sew, Sew, Sew

2024

A Black man with medium skin tone, with only half his face and hands visible in an ornately decorated Indian masking suit, with detailed beaded medallions in tones of orange, burgundy yellow and green, flanked by radiating plumage of brown feathers.

Brown Suit

2024

In front of a blue painted house a group of adults and children wear ornately decorated beaded and feathered Indian masking suits in a rainbow of colors.

Meet My Tribe: Monogram Hunters

2023

Two people stand in ornately decorated Indian masking suit, with detailed beaded medallions flanked by radiating plumage of purple feathers.

Purple Suit

2012

Artworks shown are selected from works submitted by the artist in their grant or residency application. All works are copyright of the artist or artist’s estate.

About Big Chief Tyrone “Pie” Stevenson

Big Chief Tyrone "Pie" Stevenson wears an ornately beaded sash over a white suit, wearing a brown fedora with a cigar in his mouth. He is a Black man with medium skin tone and a pencil mustache.

Tyrone “Pie” Stevenson, the Big Chief of Monogram Hunters, started masking at age 12 with Yellow Pocahontas under Big Chief Tootie. He masked with Yellow Pocahontas for 23 years, then with Tootie’s blessing became Big Chief of Monogram Hunters in 1992. In the 2000’s, he stepped away from masking, concerned that the culture had gotten away from the traditions. He spent five years with The Porch program, teaching sewing and Indian history to kids after school. Pie realized the importance of teaching the Indian traditions to the next generation. In 2014, he returned to masking, wearing black with the tribe’s first Big Queen. In the following years, he was joined by his son, 2nd Chief Jeremy Stevenson, and other members including youth he taught at The Porch. Today, cultural bearer Big Chief Pie celebrates 45 years as a Masking Indian, an honor few people hold in the Louisiana community.

Program Participation

Joan Mitchell Center Residency, 2025

Website / Social Links

“ I draw inspiration from my cultural heritage, family lineage, and personal experiences, infusing my creations with symbols, motifs, and narratives that pay homage to the resilience, creativity, and spirituality of the Mardi Gras Indian tradition.”