Meet the Artist
Hillary Kempenich is a multi-disciplinary artist, cultural bearer, and advocate, emphasizing her work to empower Indigenous people. Award winning artist Hillary Kempenich is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Hillary has immersed herself into sustaining her small business and continues her passion for community work. Raised on the Turtle Mountain reservation, Kempenich continues to advocate for better educational, health and cultural standards through her work in both urban and rural communities.
Hillary Kempenich is fluent in many mediums with a collaborative style influenced by her independent spirit as a creative woman and her deep connection to her heritage of Ojibwe, Cree, Assiniboine, Dakota, and French-Canadian ancestral roots. Kempenich comes from a family of strong artist abilities, of which are strong influences within her work. While holding on to the ties to the Turtle Mountains, Kempenich works on developing her trades with her own personal style.
Hillary has a growing list of group and solo shows, collaborations, as well as receiving recognition nationwide. The beginning of Kempenich's career was marked by awards from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, Native Arts Gathering and the First Peoples Fund. Hillary Kempenich received a second-place ribbon in the prestigious SWAIA’s Indian Market in 2018. Hillary’s artwork has recently been published in the “Finish the Fight!” a book written by New York Times author Veronica Chambers. “Finish the Fight!” are chronicles of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color suffragists, whose stories may have gone untold. Hillary’s work continues to be featured in private collections, museums, and galleries throughout the United States. The U.S. Department of Interior Museum and Secretary of Art has acquired the piece "Resilience: A Portrait of Zitkala-Sa," in Washington, D.C. to be part of their permanent collection and catalog.
Hillary holds a bachelor’s degree from University of North Dakota. Kempenich serves on the Grand Forks Foundation for Education Alumni Network board of directors and the North Dakota Indian Business Alliance board of directors. Hillary also serves as an arts and cultural consultant and has started the wearable art line Zazegaa Designs by Hillary Kempenich. Hillary lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota with her family.
Hillary Kempenich is fluent in many mediums with a collaborative style influenced by her independent spirit as a creative woman and her deep connection to her heritage of Ojibwe, Cree, Assiniboine, Dakota, and French-Canadian ancestral roots. Kempenich comes from a family of strong artist abilities, of which are strong influences within her work. While holding on to the ties to the Turtle Mountains, Kempenich works on developing her trades with her own personal style.
Hillary has a growing list of group and solo shows, collaborations, as well as receiving recognition nationwide. The beginning of Kempenich's career was marked by awards from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, Native Arts Gathering and the First Peoples Fund. Hillary Kempenich received a second-place ribbon in the prestigious SWAIA’s Indian Market in 2018. Hillary’s artwork has recently been published in the “Finish the Fight!” a book written by New York Times author Veronica Chambers. “Finish the Fight!” are chronicles of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color suffragists, whose stories may have gone untold. Hillary’s work continues to be featured in private collections, museums, and galleries throughout the United States. The U.S. Department of Interior Museum and Secretary of Art has acquired the piece "Resilience: A Portrait of Zitkala-Sa," in Washington, D.C. to be part of their permanent collection and catalog.
Hillary holds a bachelor’s degree from University of North Dakota. Kempenich serves on the Grand Forks Foundation for Education Alumni Network board of directors and the North Dakota Indian Business Alliance board of directors. Hillary also serves as an arts and cultural consultant and has started the wearable art line Zazegaa Designs by Hillary Kempenich. Hillary lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota with her family.
Artist Statement
Photo courtesy of Nedahness Rose Greene (Greene Photography)
Photo courtesy of David Cournoyer
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The world around me is continual inspiration in my journey. I believe in keeping cultural traditions in the fast-paced world while embracing the need of innovation as our world continually evolves. As a young child, many cultural bearers in our community took time out to share knowledge in traditional art, as well as contemporary art. Keeping the traditions and culture of the Turtle Mountains has become imperative as I no longer live on the reservation. I am challenged to translating my observations, thoughts, and conversations through various mediums such as painting, photography, installation work and short film in the rural expanses of North Dakota. While living in a large rural non-indigenous community, I find myself working to sustain cultural ties for both myself, and fellow Native people. I also take this time to educate, empower, and create bridges for all communities.
In Anishinaabemowin, there is no word for art; our daily lives are part of the creative process. I am a storyteller; my creations tell the stories from personal experiences, identity, historical knowledge, and observations. As we work to decolonize the spaces that we are part of, it is imperative that we self-actualize. My work is intertwined my traditional customs into modern sensibilities. My work is inspired also by the teachings given to me by foraging, gardening, and self-sustainability, I believe one of the most radical ideas of bringing balance, is through the act of connecting with earth. A constant in my journey as an artist is that obstacles foster my curiosities and drive me to move forward. These memories, traditions, stories are continually incorporated into my work. My admiration for the sun, stars, sky, water and earth, the way plants do, not only inspire me, but create a catalyst for conversation amongst the viewers of my work. These elements do not belong to one being on earth, these elements do not belong to one group on earth. These elements provide common ground to work together in solidarity. While living in an urban, non-indigenous community, I find myself working to sustain cultural ties for both myself, and fellow Native people. As stakeholders, we must reclaim and apply the knowledge of our cultural practices, and the teachings of the seven Grandfathers which are the embodiment of these teachings and to live a good life. I am living amongst the land while caring for my children, ultimately the role I have gratefully chosen. In my morning routine, I am greeted by the plant life I’ve been nurturing, establishing reciprocity. They remind me we can still be prolific, even against the harshest conditions & predators. As I practice these traditions of foraging & cultivating, I bring these plants and observations of the world into the physical creations I make, along with providing insight into self-actualization- to bring healing as individuals and community. -Hillary Kempenich |