Leah Yellowbird | What Will the Neighbors Think?

“Yellowbird’s work is master-level pointillism, capturing the bold, bright colors of nature and painting with such small detail, her work appears at first as though it is a stitched cloth,” states Karlee Holets, Director of Visual Arts. “This exhibition, beyond this masterwork, encapsulates Spring. New Beginnings. Growth. Beauty. I feel like we could all use a dose of that right now.”

About the Exhibit:

Intricate, graceful, thought-provoking, and profound -- these are all words that have been used to describe the elaborate masterwork of Leah Yellowbird. Originally a traditional bead-worker, she identifies strongly with her First Nations Algonquin-Metis and Anishinaabe heritage. At a young age, Yellowbird learned from her aunt how to follow traditional beading patterns and has been working in this medium her entire life. This knowledge, combined with her creative eye and exploration of color, has spilled over into the realm of painting, and she is now well-regarded for her work in all mediums.

“My People will sleep for 100 years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.” –Louis Riel

About the Artist

Leah Yellowbird was the assistant to the executive director at a food shelf in International Falls; after a rough period in her personal life that involved death and the end of a relationship, she moved to Grand Rapids and took a break from everything. From there, she made the natural progression into painting and completed two murals, this after roughly two decades without ever picking up a paintbrush.

Yellowbird had the first solo exhibit at the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) in 2013 and has since had her work on display at a variety of prominent spaces, including the MacRostie Art Center, Plains Museum of Art, and the Tweed Museum of Art. She was the Grand Rapids Arts’ Artist in Residence from 2015 until 2016. There, her studio was open to the public and she created some of her most popular pieces to date. Recently, she was commissioned to design the floor of the new government building in Virginia, Minnesota.

Yellowbird describes her progress in the context of survival; painting and beading are like breathing to her. She draws inspiration from the traditional art forms of her ancestors while adding a modern voice to the imagery, the result of which evokes a sense of nostalgia and wonder. Her work is a visual manifestation of time - each dot embodying a moment and a prayer. Using precision, pressure, and symmetry, her pointillistic style leaves viewers humbled and curious -- they walk away having seen something that they've never seen before.

For more information, visit www.indigenousfirst.org/leah-yellowbird

Current Gallery Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm

Saturdays: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm

Sundays: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Due to Covid-19 and the Delta Variant, there will be no food or drink served at the Opening Reception and Artist Talk. Masks are encouraged. The reception is FREE and open to all.  

Image: Leah Yellowbird, "Ripe with Seed"