Jim Nelson is a nationally acclaimed painter and storyteller of Lakota Legends. Although not native by heritage, his formative years were spent in the shadow of Pine Ridge where he inter-mingled with his Lakota friends from an early age on, coming to know their culture as well as them. Jim’s paintings are a metaphor for a spiritual connection to the natural world: “The subject matter I paint is not a modern Indian, but a people at a period of time when animal spirits were tied to everyday life. These people knew their placement on the great circle of life; they lived close to their grandmother (Earth Mother) and were guided by their grandfather (Sky Father). In out modern world, an inquisitive public is reaching back into the ancient times for a simpler way of life and the basics; the sky, the earth, and the open prairie.” Jim painted from his heart, telling these stories and legends through the use of vibrant colors and symbolism. Everything in his work has a meaning. Today Jim is highly respected by native people for his ability and desire to carry on the legends of their culture. Through the years he received many accolades for his work, which is now included in countless national and international private and corporate collections. Sadly, Jim Nelson passed away in October of 2022.