Indigenous artist Steven Mayer's story is about strength and survival

Contributed / Jared Eischen Photography By Lonna Whiting Today at 7:24 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article Supported by Supported by Produced with financial support from an organization or individual that did not approve or review the work. The Trust Project What is this? Before he had a kidney transplant in August, Indigenous printmaker and clothing artist Steven Mayer’s most important jobs were to make art and to stay alive. “I’d be in my garage printing stuff in the mornings to get ready for powwows, then Monday, Wednesday and Friday I’d have to go to dialysis from noon to 5,” Mayer said. “In between all of this, I’m making videos and making more content and doing so much storytelling.” ADVERTISEMENT Up until surgery, Mayer was going full throttle like that, traveling the country to sell his art and represent Dawgsouljah Clothing on his “Good Day to Die Tour.” The multi-stop road trip last summer was his way of selling art, producing a cool video series and being in proximity to the people he hopes to reach through his work. “I knew that I wanted to go to events, I knew that I wanted to sell my clothes at powwows,” he said. “And then I thought I could either travel to each event, or I could make it a tour, an artist tour, and build a whole universe around going to events and selling my stuff. So then, the ‘Good Day to Die’ (video series) idea kind of became part of the art, the process, as well.” Sharing the journey online gave Mayer something else, too: new followers and new fans of his work. 🎥 Watch a segment of “Good Day to Die” Contributed / Jared Eischen Photography Wearing his story Mayer, 25, grew up in New Town, ND. His tribal affiliations are Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara. “Reservation life is beautiful,” he said. “I’m grateful I got to grow up around my relatives, culture and tribe. It made me the person I am today and showed me I will always have a home, the same home my ancestors had.” ADVERTISEMENT At age 16, Mayer was diagnosed with Dense Deposit Disease, a rare autoimmune disorder that causes kidney inflammation and other issues. Sometimes, as it was for Mayer, the disease causes kidney failure, in which case, the only real solutions are dialysis or a kidney transplant. This is his second kidney transplant. COVID damaged the first one. “I’ve seen the worst throughout my health journey, but I've also experienced the biggest blessings in my life. … So far, I’ve just been adjusting to my new blessing. I would have to write a book to make you understand just how blessed I am to receive a new kidney,” Mayer said. All that hasn’t stopped Mayer from pursuing his dreams of entrepreneurship. At Dawgsouljah, he’s building an Indigenous brand that blends original screen-printed streetwear with culture and heritage. Contributed “I want to reach Indigenous youth,” Mayer said. “But not only Indigenous. Anyone who feels unheard or misrepresented because of their culture or identity. Anyone who wants to feel inspired.” After graduating high school in 2020, Mayer attended United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from North Dakota State University in 2025. Being able to make a living doing what he loves the most — art and entrepreneurship — has been deeply fulfilling. “With my brand and my art, it allows me to show that through it that I have a love for my community," Mayer said. "I want to represent my people in the right way. Sometimes I also like to highlight the things that aren't so beautiful in life just because it's the yin and yang.” ADVERTISEMENT Contributed Mayer primarily uses screenprinting to produce his clothing. Screenprinting is the process of burning an image into a mesh screen and then using ink to make that image onto a hoodie, a shirt or other clothing. Every imperfection is intentional. He’s also experimenting with taking an existing garment and giving it new life through cutting and sewing. Thread of Nations, a fashion show and marketplace project located in Bismarck, ND, describes Dawgsouljah designs as “wearable storytelling, carrying culture, identity, and a bold statement of Indigenous resilience into contemporary fashion.” Agnes Yellow Bear, a co-founder of Thread of Nations, said, “As a team, we’ve had the opportunity to get to know Steven and his work, and one thing that has really stood out to us is the way he carries himself and represents his community through his artistry.” Mayer typically sells out of merchandise at the powwows and other events he attends. He also occasionally hosts live sale events from his social media platforms as well. Contributed Discovering the artist inside While most of his time is currently being spent resting, recuperating and regaining his strength, Mayer has had more time to reflect on his life experiences in the past year and the many learning moments along the way. In the spring of 2026, he was invited to join The Arts Partnership’s Artist of Color Cohort , a competitive program for local artists to work one-on-one with artist mentors. It was during the six-month program that he saw the bigger picture for the first time. Mayer was not only an entrepreneur. He was equally an artist. ADVERTISEMENT 🎥 WATCH: Local filmmaker Oscar de Leon records Artist Steven Mayer on the why behind Dawgsouljah Clothing. “As a cohort member, my goal was to learn. Then it was to see myself in a different light … as an artist,” Mayer said. “Because in my brain, when I used to think of the word artist, I thought of paints and canvas, and I couldn’t wrap my head around me being an artist designing clothes.” Mayer said it’s a lot easier to self-identify as an artist now that he’s gone through the cohort where he had many important conversations that now help inform where he plans to go in the future. “I had people tell me that art is subjective. It’s whatever you make it. A maid coming to the house and cleaning it, that is her art. It’s so subjective, but I definitely see myself as an artist,” he said. Contributed / Agnes Woodward Those learning moments continue to inform Mayer’s decisions today. While the kidney transplant has waylaid his screenprinting production, he’s resting up for a catwalk opportunity later this month. On Nov. 21, Mayer will be a featured artist at the Thread of Nations fashion show and marketplace in Bismarck. It’ll be his first big event since his dialysis days and one he almost didn’t attend. ADVERTISEMENT “I wanted to be sure that I was going to show up there and give them all of me,” he said, but after some second thoughts and encouragement from friends and Whirl Wind Bull (Thread of Nations co-founder Agnes Yellow Bear’s husband), Mayer gave himself the green light. Not because he needs to sell more shirts or get more exposure right now. This time, it's about being seen. "I think the most important thing to take away from my art is to chase your dreams just like I'm chasing mine,” Mayer said. “It's important to have a voice in this world. It's important to take up space as you are. I can’t wait to experience what else Creator has in store for me, good or bad. It's all beautiful.” Follow Mayer’s work on https://www.instagram.com/dawgsouljahh or TikTok . Read more from The Arts Partnership Gal's Guide offers writing workshop geared toward healing Nov 3 Fargo Theatre’s Executive Director Emily Beck sees success as a playwright Oct 27 FM Opera brings Puccini’s timeless tragedy ‘Tosca’ to NDSU Oct 20 These weekend events will be music to your ears Oct 13 This article is part of a content partnership with The Arts Partnership, a nonprofit organization cultivating the arts in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo. For more information, visit theartspartnership.net. 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