Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, of Coast Salish heritage, is a Vancouver-based purveyor of politically activist indigenous art. His latest work was on exhibit at Macaulay Fine Art, Vancouver, in a solo show, Indian World. In vivid colors, he merges traditional native iconography with statements about aboriginal issues – from the environment to land claims. His political roots come partly from his father, a founder of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. His style has been called neo-Native. (Above: New Chiefs on the Land)
My work is very different from traditional art work. How do you paint a land claim? You can’t carve a totem pole that has a beer bottle on it . . . I paint this for what it is – a very toxic land base. This is what my ancestral motherland is becoming. -From National Gallery of Canada notes for the painting Shaman Coming to Fix (above).
Money, Power, Greed
The Impending Nisga’a Deal. Last Stand. Chump Change.
Killer Whale Has a Vision. Comes to Talk to Me about Proximological Encroachments of Civilizations in the Oceans
Red Man Watching White Man Trying to Fix Hole in Sky (Below: the artist, from Montecristo Magazine)
See more on his website, here.
Categories: indigenous art, Painting
Canadian Art Junkie 
Freaky and cool — there’s obviously a very vibrant art scene among Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Love the patterns also.
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Great word, freaky. And you’re right about the patterns. Interesting.
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A great “statement” Artist, I love Killer Whale, and in as much as they are scary, the men in the suits made me laugh!
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Yep, killer whale does it for me too. The messages are loud and clear.
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The dudes in suits kind of scare me, but I especially love the whale has a vision – I do love all the designs and bright colors.
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I’m getting to the point where I can’t wait to see what you have to say!! Great comment on the dudes in suits. I bet that’s exactly what he intended.
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🙂
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Very interesting take on modern native art, Canada’s answer to Picasso!
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That’s an interesting comparison. True. The surrealistic underlay is very intriguing.
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