Holding On, Reaching Out :
A History of My Artistic Life
About This Session
Description
“Be proud of who you are and your history, then determine who you want to be and make it so.”
Montileaux is a master ledger artist and modern-day storyteller who has made the choice to share, give, and show his culture to the world. Learn how influential mentors, cultural inspirations, and his own drive have taken his art on a dramatic journey.
Session Presenter(s)
Donald F. Montileaux
Donald F Montileaux (Oglala Lakota) is a master ledger artist and following in the footsteps of his forefathers, he has rekindled ledger art with striking images that capture the unique Lakota way of life.
Donald F Montileaux was born in Pine Ridge, SD. He received his formal art training at the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, NM. He continued to refine his skills and participated in numerous area art shows and many prestigious arts shows nationally. Montileaux interned under noted artist Oscar Howe at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, along with the late Herman Red Elk who became a close personal friend and mentor.
These influences and his own drive have taken his art on a dramatic journey. With work spanning the globe, numerous awards and commissions to date, and his work being represented in numerous private and public collection, Montileaux continues to push the envelope. Always looking forward to new endeavors. He has authored and illustrated children’s books which have won numerous awards – the Western Writers of American Silver Spur Award in 2015 for Tasunka: A Lakota Horse Legend along with the Mom’s Choice Award, Moonbeam Award, Aesop Award. In 2017 his second book Muskrat and Skunk / Sinkpe na Maka: A Lakota Drum Story was released.
In 2014 he was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame Champion for Excellence, Arts & Entertainment/Artist.
In 2021 he received the Western America Award for Lifetime Achievements from the Center for Western Studies, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In November 2021 he received the Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) first award for Living Treasure of the Lakota Nation in Rapid City, South Dakota.