artist Bill Brien (information about the artist, if interested please see his links to purchase his art)
links: Native American Artwork | Bismarck, North Dakota | Bountiful REI's FB: Bountiful Rei's Instagram: @bountifulreis Email: bountifulreis@gmail.com
William “Bill” Brien, is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota. Brien is also a descendant from the Cut Head Band of Dakotah, from the Spirit Lake Nation and Lakota from Standing Rock, both in North Dakota. He graduated from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, in 2011 with a bachelor of arts degree in history with minors in philosophy and geography. Since 2011, Brien has resided in the city of Bismarck, ND. Brien is a self taught artist and his chosen medium is digital art and creates all his work using his cell phone. His phone is always on hand so when inspiration strikes he can sketch and save his work. Brien’s art has been displayed at two local Bismarck art galleries: Bismarck Art & Galleries Association on display during the Annual Fall & Holiday Art Shows and the Bismarck Downtown Artist Cooperative on display during the Supporting Member Art Shows. His work can also be seen at Gallery 4 in Fargo, ND, the Red Door Art Gallery in Wahpeton, ND, Buffalo Chips Indian Art in Billings, MT, and Northland Visions Indian Art in Minneapolis, MN. Brien had a piece in the 2019 Bring Her Home: Stolen Daughters of Turtle Island Art Exhibit at the All My Relations Art Gallery in Minneapolis, MN. This piece was also part of the traveling exhibit for this show that went on display at two smaller galleries in Minnesota. Brien’s art has been seen locally on television throughout the Bismarck, ND viewing area through the local tv station affiliates. Brien has also been featured in the 2019 July-August Bismarck Magazine art issue. Bismarck, ND hosted the 2019 Game Changer Ideas Festival which featured one of Brien’s art pieces. Brien’s work can also be seen at area North Dakota pow-wow celebrations during the summer months. Brien’s art is featured in the Bismarck Cancer Center’s Art of Living calendar for the month of May 2020. The highlight of Brien’s art career is being recognized by the Bismarck Cancer Center at its annual Hope Giver’s Extraordinaire Banquet. Brien was recognized for donations made to the Bismarck Cancer Center from art sales in honor of his late wife, Geri. Brien’s wife passed, May 1, 2018, after a four year battle with breast cancer that began in late 2014. Brien attributes his love, passion, inspiration and discovery of art to his wife because of what she endured and how she continues to lead him in his quest for healing and understanding through art.