Meet the Artist
Award winning multidisciplinary artist Hillary Kempenich, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, currently resides in Grand Forks, ND. Kempenich is an established studio artist and advocate for the arts, education, social justice, and Native issues. Raised on the Turtle Mountain reservation, Kempenich continues to advocate for better educational and cultural standards for our Native Indigenous people, and for all people, through her artwork in urban communities. Kempenich currently serves on the Grand Forks Foundation for Education & Alumni Network Board of Directors as well as the North Dakota Indian Business Alliance Board of Directors [as of 2020].
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, Dakota, Assiniboine 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 & exploring new mediums with her own personal style. Kempenich also collaboratively works with her husband Aaron in designing furniture from reclaimed wood.
Kempenich's work will be featured in the Finish the Fight! non fiction book written by the staff of New York Times and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media. Kempenich's work has been part of the 2011 IPPY Outstanding Books of the Year, Storytelling Time: Native North American Art, with a growing list of group and solo shows as well as receiving recognition throughout the Midwest. The year of 2015 proved to be successful for her career, marked by awards from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, Native Arts Gathering and the First Peoples Fund. Hillary Kempenich has received the First Peoples Fund 2016 Artist in Business Grant and Fellowship Award. Kempenich’s work continues to be featured in galleries throughout the Midwest. If you would like to review Kempenich's CV, please contact the artist at info@hillarykempenich.com
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, Dakota, Assiniboine 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 & exploring new mediums with her own personal style. Kempenich also collaboratively works with her husband Aaron in designing furniture from reclaimed wood.
Kempenich's work will be featured in the Finish the Fight! non fiction book written by the staff of New York Times and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media. Kempenich's work has been part of the 2011 IPPY Outstanding Books of the Year, Storytelling Time: Native North American Art, with a growing list of group and solo shows as well as receiving recognition throughout the Midwest. The year of 2015 proved to be successful for her career, marked by awards from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, Native Arts Gathering and the First Peoples Fund. Hillary Kempenich has received the First Peoples Fund 2016 Artist in Business Grant and Fellowship Award. Kempenich’s work continues to be featured in galleries throughout the Midwest. If you would like to review Kempenich's CV, please contact the artist at info@hillarykempenich.com
Artist Statement
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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 yet I believe in 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 an urban, 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. As we walk through our journey here on Earth, many paths that intersect. As I enter each cycle of my life, there has been great opportunity to grow as an individual, while hoping to leave a positive impact on others. While living in an urban, 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 and create bridges for all communities through my creations. I find that reflecting upon those observations creates an impactful body of work. 
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