Featuring Artist Donald Montileaux
He is renowned for his iconographic ledger drawings that effortlessly combine his vibrant use of color and stylized imagery with a beautiful sense of movement.
He is celebrated for his highly anticipated recent body of work that captures the more ethereal, enigmatic aspect of guardian figures.
He is our very own Donald Montileaux and he will be featured in two very important, upcoming shows this month!
Artist of the Plains Art Show
February 17 - 19, 2012
Among the work of 22 local and regional artists, his signature ledger drawings will be on display at the 32nd annual Artists of the Plains Art Show in Sioux Falls, SD. The event is free and open to the public and sponsored by the Center for Western Studies at Augustana College.
Nothings for Sale
February 24 - May 19, 2012
‘Guardian’ figures cast shadows creating ‘nothings’ - that are not quite everything, but almost. In a solo show at the Dahl Art Center in Rapid City, SD, his most recent work explores a few of the lesser-known aspects of his creative genius.
More about the artist
Donald Montileaux is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. He received his formal art training at the prestigious Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and did an internship under noted artist Oscar Howe at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. He also credits his personal friend and mentor, the late Herman Red Elk, as his primary artistic influence.
A prolific artist, he balances his time between working in his studio, writing stories and illustrating books, attending juried art shows, and is also featured in galleries throughout the United States.
As he is also a teacher and organizer at heart, he also works with the local Native community to improve the learning environments of schools, mentors young, up-and-coming artists, conducts international workshops on the history and construction of the Plains Indian Tipi, and is currently a board member of the South Dakota Arts Council and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
His mantra is: "Be proud of who you are and your history, then determine who you want to be and make it so".