Nationality
American, Turtle Mountain Chippewa
Preview
Date of Work
2025
Medium
Ink on paper
Signature
Bottom right
Height
17"
Width
11"
Collection/Provenance
Contemporary Indigenous Art Collections: Student Government Collection
Status
On Display
Location
Memorial Union Gallery
Artist Bio
Jalen Decoteau received his BFA in drawing and visual arts from UND in 2024.
Additional Information
Three jingle dress dancers stand in poses as the implied perspective shows them moving toward the viewer.
Artist Statement:
Through Ink drawings influenced by sequential art of comic books and graphic novels, I explore themes of history, resilience, and identity in contemporary Native American culture. I use panel-based storytelling to develop narratives that include American Indigenous characters or cultural events. While the work directly alludes to the past, present, and future effects of colonization on American Indigenous life and culture, I emphasize the characters’ strength and resilience as they navigate evolving traditions within a world undergoing rapid change. Contemporary cultural events such as the powwow serve as a backdrop to much of my work to celebrate the adaptability of Native traditions, while I critique historical events which are impactful to Indigenous people by satirizing popular media and Native stereotypes.
Condition
Excellent