Unbound traces the evolution of the art form from historical hides, muslins and ledger books to more than fifty contemporary works. Edited by National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) curator Emil Her Many Horses (Oglala Lakota), this volume features historical masterworks by 14 artists and unveils new works from 11 contemporary artists commissioned by the museum exclusively for Unbound. Illustrating everything from war deeds and ceremonial events to pop culture, the selected artworks are as diverse as the individuals who created them. Plains narrative art took shape through various media such as painted hide tipis, robes and shirts. In the late nineteenth century, as trade broadened, artists created elaborate scenes of battles and ceremonies on large muslin tipi liners. When ledger books became available, artists filled their pages with narrative drawings to record their past and preserve their cultures. Native artists began reviving "ledger art" in the 1970s, creating a vibrant form that takes on contemporary topics, uses a variety of media and is widely collected.