Adrian Stimson facts for kids

Adrian Stimson is a talented artist from Canada. He was born in 1964 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He is also a member of the Siksika Nation, which is a First Nations group.

Learning and Art School

Adrian Stimson studied art at university. He earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Alberta College of Art and Design. Later, he got a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Saskatchewan. These degrees helped him become the artist he is today.

Adrian Stimson's Art Career

Stimson is an artist who works in many different ways. He creates paintings, art installations, live performances, and videos.

Paintings and Themes

His paintings are often in black and white. They frequently show bison in unusual or imagined places. These artworks make people think about history and nature.

Installations and History

In his art installations, Stimson often explores experiences from the residential school system. This was a difficult time for many Indigenous children in Canada. His art helps people understand this important part of history.

Performances and Identity

Stimson's performances explore ideas about who we are. He often combines different characters like the Indian, the cowboy, the shaman, and the Two Spirit person. Two characters he often uses are Buffalo Boy and the Shaman Exterminator.

Art and Military Service

In 2010, Stimson traveled to Afghanistan with the Canadian Forces Artists Program. This program allows artists to see and create art about the experiences of soldiers.

Remembering History Through Art

In 2017, Stimson created a special five-day performance called "TRENCH." This took place on the Siksika (Blackfoot) Nation land. The performance honored the approximately 4,000 Indigenous soldiers who served in the First World War. This artwork was part of an exhibition called "War Stories: 1917" at Calgary's Military Museums.

In 2019, Stimson worked with another artist named AA Bronson for the Toronto Biennial of Art. They created two art pieces. One was called A public apology to Siksoka Nation by Bronson. The other was Stimson's Iini Sookumapii: Guess who’s coming to dinner?. These works explored the connection between their great-grandfathers. Bronson's great-grandfather, John William Tims, was a missionary who started a residential school in 1886. Stimson's great-grandfather, Old Sun, was a traditional chief of the North Blackfoot and helped create Treaty 7.

In 2020, he created a unique waterbed installation. This artwork was a tribute to the famous "bed-ins for peace" held by Yoko Ono and John Lennon. It was part of Yoko Ono’s exhibition "Growing Freedom" at Contemporary Calgary.

Where to See His Art

Adrian Stimson's artwork is held in several important collections. Two of his paintings are part of the North American Indigenous collection at the British Museum in London. His art can also be found in the collections of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

Awards and Recognition

Adrian Stimson has received many awards for his amazing art.

• In 2018, he was given the prestigious Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts. This is one of Canada's highest honors for artists.
• He won the Blackfoot Visual Arts Award in 2009.
• In 2005, he received the Alberta Centennial Medal.
• He was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003.