The Blackfoot Art Gallery welcomes Montana artist, Valentina LaPier, to the opening of her new exhibition, May 14.
Her new exhibition, ‘Blackfoot Glory,’ features a variety of LaPier’s works which will be on display at the gallery, #200 Fourth Avenue South.
LaPier is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet tribe. She grew up all over the United States and moved back to the reservation in 2000.
She began painting free-form art at 14 -years-old and became a professional artist in 1987 after returning to Montana from Washington. She currently splits her time between East Glacier and Kalispell, Montana.
She was mentored by David Robey, Sr., a long time Montana artist. Ms. LaPier works primarily with acrylics, though her favorite medium is watercolour.
Her works reflect her admiration and influence by artists like Braque, Motherwell, Klee and Kandinsky.
For over 20 years Valentina has made a living as an artist, selling over 500 original paintings and some prints.
Valentina LaPier shares the landscape of her heart through her painted images, weaving together her life as a 21st century artist, her Blackfeet heritage and her vibrant, mystical soul. These images and the ability to capture them on canvas come to Valentina as gifts. She graciously offers these gifts to us with their power and beauty.
LaPier's work is contemporary, constructed from historical Native images, like those found in the traditional art of the Blackfeet people. Her artwork has become a vehicle, by which she educates both Native and non-native people on the history of the different tribal images used in her work.
Valentina LaPier's artwork has been exhibited in San Francisco, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Washington D.C., and throughout Montana. Her artwork is in private collections in Europe, Canada, South America, and the United States.
The exhibition’s opening reception is from 1 -5 p.m. at the Blackfoot Gallery. It runs from May 5- July 1,2011.
