Herman T. Gilbert, also known as "Tawodi," is a descendant of the Chickamauga Cherokees, born in 1949 in Chattanooga, the historic Cherokee capital in Tennessee. His family migrated from one of the Chickamauga towns of Kensington, Georgia. Tawodi’s artistic journey began at the age of 3, and this passion led him to earn a B.A. in Arts from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Over the years, he has mastered various artistic mediums, including sculpture, oil painting, watercolors, drawing, inkwork, woodcraft, clay, leatherwork, and beadwork. Tawodi’s diverse body of work has been featured in multiple museums throughout the Southeast, showcasing the breadth and depth of his creative expression.