Artist Renelle White Buffalo wants to communicate traditional symbols in a modern contemporary and abstract way. "I paint between the lines of what is expected as a Native American, in a pop-culture driven world, and abstract what I feel as a Lakota woman,” she says in her artist statement.
White Buffalo's paintings and prints have included abstract images of feathers and headdresses with a mix of traditional Lakota colors. She grew up on the Rosebud reservation and recently moved to New York City from Los Angeles and is gaining a national and international reputation for her work. She spent three semesters at Northern State University before a professor convinced her to pursue art professionally and so she transferred to Iowa State University in Ames.
White Buffalo is back at Northern State working with students this week. There’s also a new exhibit of her work at NSU’s Lincoln Gallery through June 5 with a public reception today from 4 to 7. Renelle White Buffalo joined Dakota Midday and discussed her artwork and journey from Rosebud to New York City.
You can see some of her work here.