Isaac Bignell

Cultural Background: Cree from Pas Reserve Manitoba

Isaac Bignell was a Cree painter, born in 1958 on the Pas Reserve, 400 miles north of Winnipeg in Manitoba. Isaac moved to Winnipeg, then to Minneapolis and later to Vancouver.

Outside of a few art classes Isaac was a self-taught painter, who developed his own style of sponge painting of wildlife images distinguished by flowing lines.

“My art is strongly influenced by the traditional ways of my people. I was brought up to live off the land from an early age. Hunting and trapping, living in harmony with the earth has taught me to respect the animals and the spirit and power of nature.

I hoop dance and sing Pow Wows to maintain my cultural heritage. Through art and dancing I attempt to influence native people to continue their cultural ways; the gift that was given to us by the Great Spirit.”

Isaac died at the peak of his career at the age of 37, but his art remains as his legacy.