HOCHATOWN, Okla. - Choctaw Landing is currently featuring a custom tile and carpet design by Master Choctaw artist DG Smalling for a limited time.
The intricate design, which is displayed at the casino entrance, was inspired by a pottery shard discovered in the tribe’s ancestral homelands that’s estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old. The piece is part of Smalling’s collaboration with Encore Hospitality Carpets and Emser Tile, in which he’s working to bring Indigenous aesthetics into contemporary environments.
“When I’m working with anthropologists and archaeologists, what I find remarkable is we come across so much design and so many beautiful motifs, and then I look around today and I hardly see them,” Smalling said. “For me, this is a chance to bring those motifs out of dormancy.”
Smalling has worked with Choctaw Nation on numerous projects since 2015, including at the Choctaw Cultural Center and Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant. His work with Choctaw Landing is even more personal, though, as his family is originally from Hochatown and he feels “coming back to Hochatown is very much coming home.”
“We’re excited to be able to showcase this piece at Choctaw Landing for visitors to enjoy,” said Claire Green-Young, public arts manager for Choctaw Nation. “The design celebrates both the beauty of our ancestors and the enduring relevance of their vision. It bridges the gap between heritage and modern life and reminds us the past lives on in us and with us every day.”
In his latest partnership with Choctaw Landing, Smalling hopes fellow tribal members see a piece of themselves represented in the art and that it sparks curiosity and a desire to learn more about their past.
“I want, in those moments, when a young Choctaw person hears someone else say, ‘That’s cool, that's beautiful, that's elegant,’ I want them to realize they are beautiful, they are elegant, too,” Smalling said. “This reflects your past, and this reflects a possibility for your future. That's the beauty of fine art. Fine art isn't about class, it’s about identity.”
Smalling’s design was originally unveiled at the 2025 Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow, marking a defining moment in contemporary Native design. It’s part of a larger partnership with the National Museum of Asian Art exploring tea ceremonies.
Smalling was named the first U.S. citizen and Native American Kaikee/Chronicler and participated in the 2026 Spring Tea Ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 28, which united Choctaw and Japanese tea traditions. Choctaw Nation then hosted a private reception at Choctaw Landing in April to showcase Smalling’s art to tribal and local leaders.
The special exhibit will be on display at Choctaw Landing for a limited time. Guests can enjoy this display in addition to the interactive art walk that highlights original artwork throughout the resort.
About Choctaw Landing
Choctaw Landing reflects the natural beauty of Hochatown and is a 100-room resort with meeting rooms, a restaurant, a pool with nine cabanas, and a casino with 600 slot machines and 10 table games. The resort also has an outdoor recreation venue with an amphitheater, beer garden and food offerings. Additionally, a mercantile with gifts, groceries, deli, Starbucks, and a 24-pump fuel island is attached to the resort.
