(1945 - ) Of Santee Sioux heritage, JoAnne Bird’s paintings depict her Native American lineage. They portray the rich, traditional way of life of her people, employing a contemporary artistic sensibility. Much of Bird's work feels timeless and spiritual in nature. She employs rich, bold colors in a fluid motion, presenting images of warriors and horses that seem to be approaching the viewer from straight off of the canvas. Her technique often combines a unique controlled "throwing" of paint with the use of the palette knife. In addition to painting, Bird is an accomplished sculptor working in bronze. Her sculptures, many larger than life, can be found throughout the United States and Europe. Bird has won numerous awards and honors for her work and in 1992 was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame as Artist of the Year.*