Watch The Birdie

Monte Yellow Bird Sr., better known in the art world as Black Pinto Horse, tells stories using a vibrant application of oil paint on canvas in the form of First Nation icons, more specifically of the Plains tribes, adding three-dimensional elements such as shells, feathers, beadwork, etc, as well as creating drawings using colored pencil on antique ledgers, indicative of the 1800’s American Indian ledger style.  He signs his paintings and ledger art using the name given through ceremony, Black Pinto Horse.

Black Pinto Horse is Arikara and Hidatsa from the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota.  When he was sixteen he attended the Institute of American Indian Arts which allowed him the opportunity to express himself artistically.  He furthered his art and history studies at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND majoring in History Education with an Art minor. In 2002, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Minot State University, Minot, ND.  

“As an artist there are several things that motivate me; the first and what I treasure the most, is sharing First Nation culture, stories, images, colors and art to the public- watching their eyes open a little wider as they listen, look and feel.  The second is working with children of all backgrounds and cultures, guiding them to discover who they are through the exchange of culture, stories and art during visual art workshops.  Finally, giving back to my people and communities across the nation inspires my artwork”.
- Monte YellowBird aka Black Pinto Horse

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