BIOGRAPHY
I am a storyteller from rural Minnesota, who made an unusual entrance into this craft. My children’s participation in a traditional Native American ceremony required me to make blankets as a part of their spiritual offering, and the process was very spiritual for me. Because it was the only way I could contribute as a non-native woman, I poured everything I had into those offerings. Being a creative person, I didn’t make traditional block quilts. My blankets pictorialIy depicted the Native American names gifted to my children when they were born. After a decade of creating blankets for private spiritual ceremonies, I transitioned to creating portraits for gallery display in 2018.
CV
Solo Exhibitions:
Sept – October 2023 “Identity” The Atrium at the Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN U.S.A
March – April 2022 “Identity” The Whit Gallery, St. Cloud, Minnesota U.S.A
July 1-July 31, 2021 ”Identity” Macrostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, Minnesota U.S.A
July 1 – Sept. 31, 2021 “Blair Treuer 2020 Photographic Print Collection” The Wild Hare, Bemidji, MN U.S.A
January 1- March 2, 2021 “Blair Treuer Textile Portraits” Marvelous Art Gallery Invitational Istanbul, Turkey
Group Exhibitions:
Jan.8-Feb. 12, 2022 “27th Arts North International Juried Exhibition” Hopkins Center for the Arts, MN Jurors: Susan Hensel, Curt Pederson, John T. Salminen
Nov. 12- 30, 2021 “Xposed, Naked and Not Afraid” Knox Contemporary, Calgary Alberta, Canada
Nov. 5 – Dec. 9th 2021 “Of An Era: International Juried Exhibition: The Art Effect, Poughkeepsie, NY Juror: Jova Lynne, Susanne Field Hilberry, Senior Curator at the museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.
Oct. 2- Dec. 4th, 2021 “2021 Quilts Unlimited”, View Arts Organization, Old Forge, NY Juror: Brenda Gael Smith and Kathie Beltz
Awards and Recognition
Jan. 18, 2022 McKnight Fellowship in Fiber Arts, funded by the McKnight Foundation and administered by Textile Center Minnesota.
Jurors: Annie Carlano: Senior Curator at the Mint Museum, Kyoung Ae Cho: Fiber Artist, Jenni Sorkin: Art Historian and professor at UC Santa Barbara
Jan. 8, 2022 First Place in Fiber Arts: 27th Annual Arts North International Juried Exhibition Awarded January 8th, for “Luella”
Nov. 1, 2021 Region 2 Arts Fellowship
Sept. 7, 2021 Honorable Mention @ “31st International Juried Exhibition” Viridian Artists Contemporary Art Gallery Awarded for the portrait titled “Isaac”
January 9th, 2021 1st place overall @ the 26th Annual Arts North International Juried Exhibition Awarded January 9th, 2021 for the portrait titled “Prayer for Jordan”
January 9th, 2021 4th place in Fiber Arts @ the 26th annual Arts North International Juried Exhibition Awarded January 9, 2021 for my portrait titled “Mia”
Education Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN – History B.A., philosophy minor, 2003
STATEMENT
My portraits explore intimate parts of my life, centered on the juxtaposition between my white culture and my husband’s indigenous culture and express a range of challenging topics concerning today’s society, with spirituality deeply woven into their narratives. It is vulnerable and personal, but has the power to make universal connections. Even when my work is dark, it’s filled with hope.
