Meet Valentina LaPier
Valentina LaPier is a master painter and a prominent voice in contemporary Indigenous art, with a career spanning nearly four decades. Born in Browning, Montana, Valentina is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation and a descendant of the Little Shell Tribe. Her work is a rhythmic bridge between the ancient and the modern, rooted in 38 years of dedicated study of traditional Blackfeet and Cree patterns.
Valentina’s signature style involves a meticulous accumulation of historical research and abstract design. She draws inspiration from the "aged and muted" beauty of petroglyphs, lodge designs, and utilitarian objects, viewing these symbols as living reflections of our own lifespans. By blending acrylics, water-soluble oils, and collage with a disciplined, minimalist palette of five to seven colors, she creates "simplistic forms" that carry immense spiritual and historical weight.
For Valentina, the act of painting is a "peaceful place"—a meditative process where she proves that everything created by her ancestors was, and still is, of profound purpose and beauty. Beyond her studio, she is a dedicated educator, sharing the traditional art of the Par Flech and painting with the next generation through workshops in schools.
A lifelong advocate for Indigenous visibility, Valentina’s work has been featured in major exhibitions at the Northwest Montana History Museum and the Hockaday Museum of Art. She has also served as a prestigious Artist-in-Residence for Glacier National Park, where she uses her art as a vehicle for education and reconciliation. Her paintings are not only aesthetic treasures but are also deeply purposeful, frequently used to raise national awareness for critical social issues like the MMIP (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples) crisis.
As a Karma Ranch Founding Artist, Valentina brings a spirit of "whimsical reverence" and elder wisdom to our mission. Her work on the 250-acre Montana sanctuary ensures that the stories of the land and the sovereign spirits of the herd are told with the dignity of someone who has spent a lifetime honoring the beauty of the West.
"I’ve come to know everything we created was, and still is, of purpose and beauty."
-Valentina Lapier
A Vision of Ancestral Beauty
We are deeply honored to announce that Founding Artist Valentina LaPier is currently crafting an original work created exclusively for our March 17th Kickstarter launch. Drawing from her 38 years of mastery and her Blackfeet heritage, Valentina is creating a piece that honors the "purpose and beauty" of the horse within the Great Plains tradition. This exclusive artwork will be featured as a premier reward for our Founding Stewards, offering a chance to own a sophisticated piece of Montana’s artistic heritage. Your support of Valentina’s work directly builds the permanent infrastructure of our 250-acre sanctuary, helping us preserve the dignity of the herd for generations to come. Mark your calendars for March 17th—this is your opportunity to bring Valentina’s peaceful, ancestral vision into your home.
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Visit Valentina Lapier’s website to purchase prints to support her work directly.