Montileaux’s Warriors rarely move left to right, the majority move right to left. This movement is the same direction that the early warriors used to gather other warriors to defend their homeland against their enemies. Four times around the camp and then to victory. This movement resembles the strength and power of the whirlwind on the plains. Gathering strength and power and removing all in its way.
War horses, buffalo, and warriors are the primary subjects of Montileaux’s art, all telling a story through the use of movement, color, positioning of the subject with colored pencils and India ink, he makes all the subjects come to life.
A Master ledger artist who gives back his richness of history and art to students through workshops and training be his student’s artists or students of art all are given a gift, the gift to express themselves in an artistic way.
Donald Montileaux is a man who has always aspired to devote his life to creating artwork that tells the world what kind of a person lingers behind many faces. Born in Pine Ridge, SD, Don is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He attended the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, NM and Black Hills State College in Spearfish, SD, then worked for 22 years at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center before becoming a full time artist. Once he made that decision, his artwork began to take on a new vitality and new meaning, reflecting those true, honest feelings – the spirituality that is so strong in the Lakota people.
Don has received numerous awards and commissions as well as participated in many major art shows and featured in galleries in NM, MN, AZ, MT, IL, CO and SD. His work is represented in numerous private and public collections.
Don has built a reputation steadily working and creating a style that is very unique. His signature “horses” are not unlike those created by Herman Red Elk, his mentor and friend. Don attended workshops taught by world-renowned artist Oscar Howe and it was there he met Herman Red Elk, a hide painter from Ft. Peck Reservation in MT. To this day he says, “I have to acknowledge these two gentlemen and give them credit for where I am today, because they are the ones who gave me a sense of belonging, of who I was as a Lakota person. They also gave me my Lakota name, Yellowbird.”
Don has established a strong reputation and rapport in the Indian community, acceptance by his Lakota elders and peers is a great honor for him.
