About Kevin Red Star

Kevin Red Stars’ art is honored throughout Native America for its authenticity. It presents a shining vision of centuries-old Crow (Apsaalooka) culture through the eyes of a thoroughly contemporary consciousness. In the world of museums and private collections, he is equally respected for the content of his unique imagery, for his artistic productivity, and for the enduring value of his work.

Kevin Red Star grew up on the Crow reservation in southern Montana, a member of a highly creative family. He was known as the go-to artist for all school projects. He was chosen to be in the first group of students at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe in the late sixties, when the founders personally visited Native villages and reservations nationwide and recruited the most talented youngsters from each. The school provided a learning environment of tribal tradition, world art history, and current trends. Open studios, well stocked with supplies, encouraged individual experimentation and collaboration. Students mined their ancient customs for content, and then created exciting new forms to provide current relevance. Red Star and some of his friends in their graduating class continued their studies at the San Francisco Art Institute before embarking on their careers. They attracted immediate notice in New York and Paris, as well as established art centers throughout the United States. And they went on to change the face of modern Indian art.

In the decades that followed, each artist pursued an individual path. Some rose steadily, some erratically. Some sank into oblivion, and some passed on. Always, Kevin Red Star continued to paint. Year after year, through difficulty and triumph, grief and joy, he has created through his art an indelible expression of his tribal legacy. His fame has grown along with the increasing clarity and complexity of his paintings. He is known for his attention to historical detail in his depictions of warriors, ceremonies, costumes, and tipis. Each element, no matter how small, has specific meaning and significance within the context of tradition.

Above and beyond accuracy, Kevin Red Star’s deep experience is expressed in the color and composition of image after image. Each one is a complete statement in itself; each remains in the mind’s eye long after viewing it. Tipis cluster in close community, their long, graceful poles fanning out to catch the stars and sunbeams. Women gather for ceremonies in richly ornamented clothing. Warriors go forth on proud Appaloosa ponies, their bows and shields at the ready to protect their encampments. In every painting, the subject springs vividly to life, reflecting the mastery of style and technique he has gained over the course of the years.

Kevin Red Star continues to evolve and refine his art every day in his spacious studio, located near the Crow reservation and the resort town of Red Lodge, Montana. He also spends time in Santa Fe, where his career began. Each morning brings new facets of his vision to life on canvas, as he lives and works within the all-absorbing power of his art.

Artist painting Native American scene

“Indian culture has in the past been ignored to a great extent. It is for me, as well as for many other Indian artists, a rich source of creative expression. An intertwining of my Indian culture with contemporary art expression has given me a greater insight concerning my art. I hope to accomplish something for the American Indian and at the same time achieve personal satisfaction in a creative statement through my art.”

— Kevin Red Star

Kevin Red Star – Resume

Red Star’s works are the focal point of several important museum collections, including…

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    The Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of the American Indian

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    CM Russell Museum

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    Heard Museum

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    Denver Art Museum

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    Eiteljorg Museum

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    Southwest Museum

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    Whitney Museum of Western Art

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    Institute of American Indian Arts Museum

  • A small white dog in a stroller outside a clothing store.

    United States Department of State

…and scores of others. Pursuing a successful career spanning four decades, over 100 large scale exhibitions have featured the celebrated artist’s works on canvas and paper.

Education

Institute of American Indian Arts
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Honorary Doctorate 2010

Institute of American Indian Art
Under James McGrath
Santa Fe, New Mexico

San Francisco Institute of Art
San Francisco, California

Eastern Montana College
Billings, Montana

University of Moscow
Moscow, Russia

Rocky Mountain College
Honorary Doctorate in Fine Art
Billings, Montana

Books

Kevin Red Star by Daniel Gibson
2014, Gibbs Smith, 192 pages

The State of the Native Nations – Conditions Under US Policies of Self-Determination
2008, Harvard Project, , Oxford University Press, 4 pages

Yellowstone Art Museum, Running Rabbit – The Work of Kevin Red Star
2005, Yellowstone Art Museum, 44 pages (color)

We, The People – of Earth and Elders, Vol II
2001, Serle L Chapman Montana Press Publishing, 8 pages

Museums

Heard Musuem
Phoenix, Arizona

Pierre Cardin’s Espace
Paris, France

Whitney Museum of Western Art
Cody, Wyoming

Yellowstone Art Museum
Billings, Montana

Exhibitions - Museums, Institutions & Awards

Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of the American Indian
New York, New York

The Whitney Museum of Western Art
Cody, Wyoming

The Heard Museum
Phoenix, Arizona

The Denver Art Museum
Denver, Colorado

CM Russell Museum
Great Falls, Montana

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian & Western Art
Indianapolis, Indiana

Southwest Museum
Los Angeles, California

Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Cody, Wyoming

Montana Historical Society
Helena, Montana

Yellowstone Fine Arts Center
Billings, Montana

Colorado Springs Arts Center
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Schingoethe Center for the Native American Cultures
Aurora, Illinois

Institute of American Indian Arts Museum
Santa Fe, New Mexico

United States Department of State – Art in the Embassies
Washington, DC

Espace – Pierre Cardin
Paris, France

US Peking Embassy
Peking, China

Exhibitions - Galleries & Art Shows 2010 - Present

2017-2015
See our Events page…

2014
Charlie Russell Exhibition & Auction
C.M. Russell Museum
Great Falls, MT

2013
One Man Show
Creighton Block Gallery
Big Sky, MT

2013
Bierstadt to Warhol: American Indians in the West
University of Utah
Marcia & John Price Museum Building
Salt Lake City, UT

2013
The Russell: The Sale to Benefit the C.M. Russell Museum
C. M. Russell Museum
Great Falls, MT

2013
Masters Of The American West Fine Art Show And Sale
Autry National Center of the American West
Los Angeles, CA

2012
Collectors’ Reserve: American Art Exhibition and Sale
Gilcrease Museum
Tulsa, Oklahoma.

2012
Native American Modernism: Art from North America
Ethnologisches Museum
Berlin, Germany

2012
Masters of the American West:
Fine Art Exhibition and Sale
Autry National Center of the American West
Los Angeles, CA

2012
12th Annual Legacy Art Albuquerque
(Self-portraiture Show)
Museum of Contemporary Native Arts Alumni Alumnus Exhibition
Albuquerque, NM

2012
Icons of The West Exhibition
Dana Gallery
Missoula, MT
Albuquerque

2010
Holter Museum of Art – Store Show
St. Helena, MT

Exhibitions - Galleries & Art Shows 2000 - 2009

2009
Masters of the American West
Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA

2009
CM Russell Benefit Exhibition
Great Falls, MT

2008
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale
Cody, WY

Exhibitions - Galleries & Art Shows 1990 - 1999

1998
Minnie Moore Mansion Gallery – “Kevin Red Star”
Sun Valley, ID

1998
Masters of the American West
Autry National Heritage Center, Los Angeles, CA

1997
Kevin Red Star Gallery – Presenting Giclee Artwork

1997
Ramsacle Gallery – “Kevin Red Star”
New York, NY

1997
Habitat for Humanity – Unveiling of “Absaloka Lodges”

1997
Autry Museum of Western Heritage
Los Angeles, CA

1997
Kevin Red Star Gallery – Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs

1996
Merida Gallery – “First Retrospective Secondary Market”
Red Lodge, MT

1995
Merida Gallery – “Red Star Returns from Russia”
Red Lodge, MT

1995
Museum of the Rockies – “Recent & Retrospective: 1963-1995”
Bozeman, MT

1994
New Works on Paper – Exclusive Representation
2 month Exhibition

1994
Museum of the Rockies – Premier of New Works

1993
Merida Gallery – Exclusive Representation
Red Lodge, MT

1992
Merida Gallery – Exclusive Representation
Red Lodge, MT

1991
Merida Gallery – Exclusive Representation
Red Lodge, MT

1990
El Taller Gallery – “The Return of Kevin Red Star”
Santa Fe, NM

Exhibitions - Galleries & Art Shows 1980 - 1989

1989
Nothcutt Steele Gallery – Eastern MT College – “Kevin Red Star”
Billings, MT

1989
El Taller Gallery – “Kevin Red Star – One Man Show”
Santa Fe, NM

1988 –
El Taller Gallery – “Kevin Red Star – One Man Show”
Santa Fe, NM

1985
Four Winds Gallery – “Kevin Red Star – One Man Show”

1985
Segal Gallery – “Kevin Red Star – One Man Show”
New York City, NY

1984
San Diego Museum of Man – “Eye of My Mind – Kevin Red Star”
San Diego, CA

1984
Galleria Capistrano – “Kevin Red Star~One Man Show”
San Juan Capistrano, CA

1984
The Squash Blossom – “Tales of a Tribe – Kevin Red Star”
Denver, CO

1983
Aspen, CO – Santa Fe, NM

1983
Galerie Amak – “Kevin Red Star – Crow Indianer Acrybilder”
Berlin, Germany

1982
“The Return of the Peking Show”
Santa Fe, NM – Tuscon, AZ – Beverly Hills, CA

1982
“Ready for the Opera” – Santa Fe Opera Guild
Santa Fe, NM

1982
Via Gambaro Gallery – “Kevin Red Star – 3rd Annual”
Washington, DC

1981
Tuscon, AZ – Niagrara Falls, NY – Washington, DC

1981
Missouri Men’s Athletic Club – Peking Art Exhibit – 21 Cities in China

1980
San Juan Capistrano, CA – Taos, NM – Washington, DC – Santa Fe, NM

1980
Summit, NJ – New York City, NY

1980
Spirit of the Earth (INCA)
Havanna, Cuba

Exhibitions - Galleries & Art Shows 1973 - 1979

1979
Hukahee’s ‘Bon Voyage’ Off to Paris Show
Scottsdale, AZ

1979
Espace Pierre Cardin
(9 chosen for Msr. Cardin’s 1st Native American Show)

1979
Santa Fe, NM – Kansas City, MO – Chicago, IL

1978
Oklahoma Museum of Art – “100 Years of Native American Painting”

1978
Scottsdale, AZ – Tuscon, AZ – Santa Fe, NM – Chicago, IL

1977
Scottsdale, AZ – Aspen, CO – Santa Fe, NM – Chicago, IL

1977
Asahi Gallery – “77 West Coast Experience”
Tokyo, Japan

1976
Scottsdale, AZ – Santa Fe, NM – Chicago, IL

1975
The Squash Blossom Gallery – “Kevin Red Star – One Man Show”
Chicago, IL

1973
Southern Plains Indian Museum – “Painted Tipis”
Anadarko, OK

Magazine and Newspaper References

Oct 2008 Cover Art
“The Hunting Party”
Indian Gaming

Mar 2008 Cover Art
“Little Sweet Grass”
Indian Gaming

2008 Cover Art
“Summer Evening Teepee” – The State of the Native Nations
Harvard Project

2008 Cover Art
“Peace Shield”
Indian Gaming Buyers Guide & Directory

Jun 2007 Cover Art
“Crow Chiefs at the Bitterroot”
Indian Gaming

Jan 2007 Cover Art
“Southern Traditional Pow-Wow Dancer”
Indian Gaming

2006 Cover Art
“Rain in the Face”
Indian Gaming Buyers Guide & Directory

Mar 2005 Cover Art
“Crow Woman on Parade”
Indian Gaming

Dec 2004 Cover Art
“First Snow Fall on Rock Creek Valley”
Indian Gaming

Apr 2004 Cover Art
“Big Thunder”
Indian Gaming

2003 Cover Art:
“Summer Evening Lodges”
The Way of the Warrior – Henry Old Coyote & Barney Old Coyote, Jr

Nov 2003 Cover Art
“Gathering of the Crow Chiefs”
Indian Gaming