Artist Bio

Sheldon Starr is most creative in abstract painting and graphic design. He is still in the early stages of other fine art mediums, but still strives for experience in all fine art forms. Graduating from Oglala Lakota College with a degree in Graphic Arts (2020), Starr continues to utilize his graphic design experience in the free-lance and commission based fields. Sheldon shows his creative freedom through paintings based on geometric subjects. Paying homage to the traditional Lakota geometric designs and the aesthetics of the 80s,90s,and 2000s American pop culture, he  produces creative pieces that are engulfed in vibrant, saturated colors through painting and digital artworks. Sheldon Starr is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (Oglala Lakota) and is based in Rapid City, SD.

Artist Statement

My reverie of childhood in the 90’s and 2000’s mixed with signage and American pop culture of the 80’s pairs with my utmost appreciation for traditional Lakota geometric designs. Pastel, neon, and saturated colors themselves influence me to create the next piece and push my palette to be more intricate the next time around. I strive to incorporate the brightest and darkest colors throughout the entirety of my artist portfolio.

Being a teenager in the 2000s obsessed with the music, art, cars, and colors of the 80’s and 90’s I felt like I was always stuck in a daydream and just wanting a taste of what it would be like to experience that time period. These daydreams lead me to create pieces full of personal emotions that I could only express with shapes and colors. My family is very connected to the traditional Lakota culture, so I was always exposed to the culture, language and art. The traditional Lakota geometric art I feel is burned into my creative eye and I am connected to it in a way that words cannot express. My art expresses that not only were my ancestors powerful, and survivors of history, we are still here and we are a part of modern history.