Warrior in Trade Blanket, 1974
by Glen LaFontaine, Cree Nation
clay, pigment
16.5" high x 11.5" wide x 4" deep
Glen LaFontaine was born in Seattle, Washington in 1943 and is a member of the Little Shell Band of Pembina Crees of Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, North Dakota. LaFontaine studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts (1968-1970), as well as the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence (1970-1973). In 1976, he was given a solo exhibition at the Amon Carter Museum of Western Art in Fort Worth.
LaFontaine works in stone, wood, steel, plaster, but is best known for his clay sculptures depicting Chippewa and Cree Nation warriors, seated women, standing chiefs, and Plains animals including horses, birds, and buffalo. In 1978, LaFontaine created an 8' x 10' ceramic wall sculpture titled "The Red Race" consisting of more than 90 hand-painted and hand-carved tiles. This ceramic mural depicts a vivid image of life of the Native people on the Plains.
In the 1990’s, LaFontaine abruptly quit creating artwork, choosing instead to pursue other passions including the buying and selling of antiquities and ephemera.
