Jim Denomie, Tree People Tote, 2021

Jim Denomie (US, b. 1955) is a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe who lives and works in Franconia, MN. Primarily a painter, he also works in printmaking, photography, ink drawings, and found object sculpture. His narrative paintings focus mainly on political, social, cultural, and personal events (both current and historical) pertaining to issues important to Native Americans as well as his own identity. His work has been shown in 130 exhibitions throughout the United States as well as internationally and is featured in numerous private and public collections including the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Denver Art Museum. Over the course of his career, he has received a number of prestigious accolades including a Bush Fellowship, two McKnight Fellowships, and most recently the 2019 McKnight Distinguished Artist Award.

Commissioned by the Walker, Denomie has selected a limited edition tote depicting a recent oil painting. The artist often sketches his dreams upon waking then later pulls from these images when he paints later in the day. Denomie has said that he uses women as warriors in his work because he sees them as leaders in modern tribes.