BLACKPINTOHORSE – Monte Yellow Bird Sr - Biography

In the artist's words...

"All living beings are intimately connected to humans. In my art, I believe that I can connect with the viewer using strong spiritual and traditional icons, colors, symbols, gender, the Great Plains, the cosmos, and, importantly, the sentience of animals. For me, humans, lands, creatures, the heavens, and traditional dwellings all share social spaces that are integrated and familiar. I believe there is a strong innate desire for us to return to these relationships because they are dynamic and complementary."

BLACKPINTOHORSE – Monte Yellow Bird Sr, "Monte" to his friends, is a renowned Native American artist with deep roots in culture, art, education, our Earth and sentient beings, and the martial arts. Monte grew up on a reservation feeling unheard, marginalized, and it wasn't until he enrolled at the Institute of American Indian Arts at Stanta Fe that he met peers with stories like his own. He felt relevant, encouraged, and optimistic for the first time in his life. Monte has held true to his strong beliefs and values at every turn, every challenge, and every success on his journey ever since.

His impressive career in the arts is matched by an inspiring career in leadership. When he is not exhibiting his meaningful artwork around the world—from North America to Europe to the Middle East—he is mentoring troubled youth and teaching art in programs such as the Boys & Girls Town, Upward Bound, and Job Corps. His students adore him, and why shouldn't they? A self-defined compassionate listener, Monte is a star among us.

With professional horsemanship and a black belt in martial arts rounding out his life experiences, we can all agree the best way to descibe this man is, truly, a Renaissance Man.

Collections

Avera St Mary's Hospital, 3 original ledger works, Sioux Falls SD, 2018
Bronze sculpture, bust, Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota, March 2016
Bronze sculpture, horse and rider, Knife River Indian Villages, North Dakota, March 2016
Great Plains Museum, University of Nebraska, ledger art in permanent collection, Lincoln NE, 2016
Painting, Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, Washburn ND, March 2016
Arikara Cultural Center, Three Affiliated Tribes, White Shield ND, September 2014
Nelson-Atkins Museum, ledger art in permanent collection, Kansas City MO, October 2014
Book Cover, For Indigenous Eyes Only; a Decolonization Handbook, School of American Research, Santa Fe NM, 2012
Jamestown Regional Medical Center, 2 ledger art works, Jamestown ND, October 2011
Vancouver Community College, 2 Paintings, 3' x 4', Vancouver British Columbia, November 2010
Volkenkunde Museum, 1 ledger piece for permanent collection, Leiden Netherlands, August 2009
North Dakota State University, 5' x 10' mural, 4 panels, mixed media, June 2009

Exhibitions

Mud Pony Traveling Exhibit, Art Center, Jamestown ND, May 2013
Mud Pony Traveling Exhibit, Memorial Union Gallery, North Dakota State University, Fargo ND, March 2013
Black Pinto Horse, A Retrospective; Stories, Traditions, Faith, Holter Museum, Helena MT, January –April 2013
Black Pinto Horse, A Vision of Color and Tradition, Memorial Union Gallery, NDSU, Fargo ND, November 2009
Hope: A Local Response to Hate, Installation Exhibit, Paris Gibson Square Museum, Great Falls MT, July 2009
“High Spirits: Black Pinto Horse”, Paris Gibson Square Museum, Great Falls MT, August 2008
“Keepers of the Mystery REE-Applying paint”, Taube Museum of Art, Minot ND, May 2007
“Keepers of the Mystery, REE-Applying paint”, Northern Lights Gallery, Mayville ND, March 2007
Four Seasons Gallery, featured artist, Scottsdale AZ, February 2007
“Keepers of the Mystery REE-Applying paint”, Lake Region Heritage Center, Devils Lake ND, February 2007
“Keepers of the Mystery REE-Applying paint”, James Memorial Center, Williston ND, January 2007
“Keepers of the Mystery, REE- Applying paint”, Jamestown Art Center, Jamestown ND, November 2006
“Pony Blankets and Buffalo Hides”, Northwest Gallery, Minot ND, October 2006
Selected works in the ND Governor's and First Lady's Office, Bismarck ND, 2005
“The Struggles, Love & Reflection of Black Pinto Horse; A Tribute to White Corn Tassel”, Minot State University Gallery, Minot ND, 2001
“Images of an Arikara”, Public Library Gallery, Minot ND, 2000
“The Elements”, Manitou Galleries, Santa Fe NM, Spring 2018
“Living Traditions, Reflections of the Past”, Craig Thomas Visitor Center, Grand Tetons National Park, spring – fall 2017
“Re-Riding History: From the Southern Plains to the Matanzas Bay” traveling show, United States 2015- 2018
Montana Triennial Exhibit, Missoula Art Museum, Summer 2015
Icons of the West, Dana Gallery, Summer 2015
Western Art Showcase, Calgary Stampede, Calgary Alberta, July 2014
Contemporary Indigeneity, The New Art of the Great Plains, Great Plains Art Museum, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE, June 2014
Cowboys and Indians, Cowboy Hall of Fame, Medora ND, Summer 2014
Conflict, Courtship, Ceremony and the Chase; Renowned ledger artists from across the nation, Paris Gibson Square Museum, Great Falls MT, January- April 2014
“Wild Life”, Danforth Gallery, Livingston MT, August – September 2013
Cowboys and Indians, Cowboy Hall of Fame, Medora ND, Summer 2013
Cowboys and Indians, Cowboy Hall of Fame, Medora ND, Summer 2012
Western Art Gallery, Calgary Stampede, Calgary Alberta, July 2012
Featured Artist, Indian Uprising Gallery, Bozeman MT, July 2012
Contemporary Indigeneity, The New Art of the Great Plains, Great Plains Art Museum, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE, June 1- July 29, 2012
“Wings of Man; the art of the horse” Exhibit, Holter Museum, Helena MT, March-June 2012
41st Annual Trail of Tears Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center, Tahlequah OK, Spring 2012
2-person show, Great Falls Public Library, Great Falls MT, November 2011
Expressions Montana, Missoula Art Museum, Missoula MT, Summer 2011
Viridian Artists Juried Competition, Elisabeth Sussman, curator of the Whitney in N.Y.C was the juror, New York City, July 2011
40th Annual Trail of Tears Art Show, Cherokee Heritage Center, Tahlequah OK, Spring 2011
Mary Show, Poudre River Art Center, Fort Collins CO, December 2010
B.E.S.T of First Nations Juried Competition, Blue Horse Gallery, Bellingham WA, October 2010
Viridian Artists Juried Competition, Elisabeth Sussman, Curator of the Whitney in N.Y.C was the juror, New York City, July 2010
Jamestown Art Center Juried Competition, Jamestown ND, May 2010
Hot Springs Juried Art Competition, Hot Springs MT, June 2010
The 70's: The Revolution Continues, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe NM, August 2009
Viridian Artists Juried Competition, Elisabeth Sussman, Curator of the Whitney in N.Y.C was the juror, New York City, July 2010
Story Time with Black Pinto Horse, Urban Art Project, Great Falls MT, February- May 2009
The Art of Personal Adornment, The Dahl Museum, Rapid City SD, January- April 2009
Impressions de Provence, Paris Gibson Square Museum, Great Falls MT, January 2009
Underbrush Gallery, Featured Artist, Fargo ND, November 2008
Teacher's Exhibit, Paris Gibson Square Museum, Great Falls MT, August- May 2008
Gallery 16, Western Art Show, Great Falls MT, March 2008
Prairie Edge Gallery, "The End of What Trail?", Santa Fe NM, October 2007
North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, Wild West Show and Sale, Medora ND, May- October 2007
Four Seasons Gallery, Scottsdale AZ, September – May 2007
Linda's Gallery, Featured Artist, Bismarck ND, October 2006
Foot Hills Gallery, Featured Artist, Sheridan WY, August 2006
NDAGA, “Offerings of the Heart” Traveling Show , MT, ND, SD and MN, 2006-2003
Lewis and Clark Exhibition Traveling Art Show, North Dakota, Montana Locations, 2006 - 2002
Two Rivers Gallery, Abstract Realities Native Show, Minneapolis MN, June 2005
Five Nations Arts, Featured Artist, Bismarck ND, April 2005
Plains Art Museum, Metamorphosis, Fargo ND, 2002
Institute of American Indian Arts, Alumni Contemporary Art Show, Santa Fe NM, 2000, 1999
Paris Gibson Art Auction, Great Falls MT, Fall 2018