Kevin Red Star was born on a Crow reservation in Lodge Grass, Montana, in 1943. Raised in the language and ways of his Indian heritage, those early years imbued him with the Crow culture which is fully expressed in a real and heartfelt way in his art. His talent was recognized early and he had the opportunity to develop as he studied at the Institute of American Indian Art in New Mexico, the San Francisco Art Institute, Montana State University in Bozeman and Eastern Montana State in Billings. Marking his emergence as an artist, his paintings have received recognition and awards including First Prize and the Governor's Choice at the Scottsdale National Indian Exhibition. Red Star's subjects are mostly traditional Indian forms, but his use of mixed media alters and enhances those forms in a purely contemporary manner. Using ink, acrylic and collage, his compositions are well organized and brilliantly colored, utilizing mainly earth tones. His extensive knowledge of Indian culture, costumes and design elements imparts an authenticity that remains unobscured by the contemporary expression. His subjects seem timeless, suspended in reverential space created by Red Star from his own deep humanitarianism. Sensitive and thought provoking, Red Star best expresses his work when he explains: "Indian culture has been ignored to a great extent. For me and many other Indian artists, it is a rich source of creative expression. An intertwining of my Indian culture with contemporary art has given me an enlightenment and greater insight concerning my art. I hope to accomplish something for the American Indian and, at the same time, achieve personal satisfaction in a creative statement through my art." |
