Sorrel Sky Gallery Opens One-Man Show by Native American Artist Kevin Red Star

“Contemporary Traditionalist” Crow artist Kevin Red Star featured at Friday Art Walk at Santa Fe gallery

The one-man show during First Friday Art Walk on Friday, August 5, 2016 features Native American painter Kevin Red Star from 5:00-7:30 pm at Sorrel Sky Gallery’s downtown location at 125 W. Palace Ave. Nationally and Internationally acclaimed, Red Star’s paintings celebrate his culture’s history in a contemporary yet traditional style. He is one of Sorrel Sky Gallery’s featured artists during Santa Fe Indian Market 2016.

Kevin Red Star paints his people – the Crow – as warriors, dancers and healers, portraying the culture of these 19th century Northern Plains Indians. Often using historical photographs to capture details, Red Star’s style incorporates realism with semi-abstract imagery that includes bold gestures and vivid colors. His painting expresses his self-affirmed role as historian, recorder and ambassador for his native Crow culture. “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.”

Born in Montana to parents active in Crow arts, Red Star attended the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Upon graduation, he received a scholarship to the San Francisco Art Institute. With over 100 exhibitions to his credit across the U.S and abroad, including one-man shows in Paris, Berlin, Tokyo and Peking, Red Star’s paintings are included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, C.M. Russell Museum, Heard Museum, Denver Art Museum, Eiteljorg Museum and the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, among others.

Sorrel Sky Gallery owner, Shanan Campbell Wells, sees Red Star’s work as innovative, continually breaking new ground. “Kevin’s use of bold color, his masterful manipulation of light and contrast, his obvious dedication to his craft and his culture … it touches something new in the viewer each time they are in the presence of his work. It’s been an honor to represent Kevin at our Durango location for so many years. To now have him at our Santa Fe location, not just to present this new body of work, but to represent him here as well, I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Sorrel Sky Gallery’s fresh approach to Western art presents a select collection of contemporary and traditional fine art and jewelry for the discerning collector. Sorrel Sky Gallery was founded in Durango, CO in 2002 and opened its Santa Fe, NM location in 2014. It represents over 70 sculptors, painters and jewelers including bronze artist Star Liana York, painter Kevin Red Star, and jewelry artist Ben Nighthorse, among others.