David Bradley (Native American artist) facts for kids

David Bradley (born in 1954) is a talented artist from the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. He is well-known for using his art to talk about important social and political issues affecting Native American art today. He is also an artist-activist who works to fight against things like fake art.

Personal life

David Bradley was born in Minnesota in 1954. He spent many of his early years in the Minneapolis area. In 1970, he left Minnesota and traveled through the Southwestern United States, Central, and South America. He lived for a year with the Mayan Indians.

After returning to the U.S., he spent time with the Navajo Indians in Arizona. He later studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). In 1980, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts from the College of Santa Fe.

David Bradley currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2011, he was diagnosed with a serious illness that affects his movement and speech.

Artistic career

David Bradley uses his art to share important messages. He believes that artists from Native American communities have a special role. They can help promote true stories and ideas about Native American cultures. They can also help correct wrong ideas or stereotypes.

Speaking out through art

When David Bradley first became a professional artist, he hoped to avoid politics. But he soon realized that for Native Americans, art often connects to political issues. He saw how museums sometimes took advantage of Native American artists. He also saw a lot of fake art being sold as real Native American art.

This made him decide to speak out. He felt it was his responsibility to talk about these problems. He sees himself as a representative for the Chippewa people and all American Indians. He takes this responsibility very seriously.