Chief Tuscaloosa presents a Native leader in a moment of forward movement, his open hand extended while his other hand holds a weapon. The gesture brings an offer of peace into the same composition as the strength and resolve required to defend his people. Conceived for a sixteen-foot bronze, the figure is designed to communicate through its full silhouette as well as the expression of the face.

The working model developed through historical research and consultation with Choctaw and Chickasaw historians. Clothing, ornaments, and feathered regalia are integral to the portrait. Careful attention to these elements gives the chief a specific cultural presence, while the stance and anatomy establish him as an individual with authority and purpose.