A portrait of Kei-a-gis-gis, a Plains Ojibwa woman, painted by George Catlin in 1835 during his travels across the American West.

George Catlin painted this portrait of Kei-a-gis-gis during his extensive travels across the American West in the 1830s. As a self-taught artist, Catlin aimed to document the lives and customs of Indigenous peoples before their cultures were altered by westward expansion. This work captures the subject in a direct, frontal pose, focusing on her personal adornments and traditional attire.

The sitter is depicted with long, dark hair and wears a light-coloured garment decorated with a prominent star motif and circular ornaments. Multiple strands of beads drape across her chest, reflecting the craftsmanship and aesthetic traditions of the Plains Ojibwa. Catlin applied paint with a relatively smooth finish, prioritising the clear representation of the subject's features and the specific details of her jewellery. The background is a simple, atmospheric wash of colour, which keeps the viewer's attention fixed on the sitter.

Catlin produced hundreds of such portraits during his career, often working quickly to record his subjects during his visits to various tribal territories. This painting is part of his larger collection, which he toured throughout the United States and Europe. The work provides a visual record of the period, offering insight into the dress and appearance of Indigenous women as observed by Catlin during the mid-nineteenth century. The portrait remains a clear example of his documentary approach to painting, where the primary objective was the preservation of individual likenesses within their cultural context.