About the Artist
Kent Estey is a proud member of the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe in northwestern Minnesota. He and his wife, Becky, own an art studio on the White Earth Reservation in the village of Naytahwaush.
“I’ve always painted the land, sky, and water. My wife and I live in the woods, surrounded by the forest and the beautiful lakes of northwestern Minnesota. Inspiration is everywhere I look. I consider myself a contemporary artist with a special interest in skies and landscapes. My paintings are typically non-representational and abstract. I love color and texture, and use a variety of mediums including acrylic, oil, and ink. Some of my recent paintings also feature stone, copper, and other metals. I am especially inspired by earth tones and deep shades of blue, brown, and red. My inspiration comes from nature, and often, my feelings and emotions are expressed on canvas and paper. That’s my way of capturing and honoring my beautiful Ojibwe heritage.”
Current & Recent Exhibitions
- Minwaajimowinan-Good Stories: Artist and Guest Curator, Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, MN (January-April 2026)
- Featured Artist, Mino-bimaadiziwin: Red Door Gallery, Wahpeton, ND, (December 2025)
- Shared Horizons, Artist and Curator: Red Door Gallery, Wahpeton, ND (November 2025)
- Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation”, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI, (Sept 2025-April 2026)
- Mino-bimaadiziwin: Bloominton Center for the Arts, Bloomington, MN (Sept-Oct, 2025)
- We Tell Our Stories: Unity Church, St. Paul, MN (Sept-Oct, 2025)
- Shared Visions: Art Project 605, Detroit Lakes, MN (July 2025)
- Mino-bimaadiziwin The Good Life: Bagley Area Arts Collective, Bagley, MN (May-June 2025)
- Plain of Stars: Native American Exhibition, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (Permanent Collection)
- Native American Exhibition: Red Door Gallery, Wahpeton, ND, November 2024
- Red Cloud Indian Art Show: Pine Ridge, SD June-Aug 2024 (Award: 2nd Place Mixed Media)
- Naytahwaush: Faces, Stories and Artists, Artist and Curator, Mahnomen, MN May-July 2024 (Curated and Exhibited)
- Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN March-June 2024
- All My Relations, "Okizi"- Minneapolis, MN February-April, 2024
- Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, MN, November 2023- February 2024.
- Easter Luthern Church; Eagan, Minnesota July-August 2023.
- American Indian Community Housing Organizaion Gallery- Dr. Powless Cultural Center, Duluth, Minnesota May-June 2023.
- Austin Artwork Center, Austin, Minnesota April - May, 2023
- Detroit Lakes Public Library, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota January-February, 2023
- United Church of Christ, Waubun, Minnesota, November, 2022
- Gizhiigin Art Incubator, Mahnomen, Minnesota, October-November, 2022
- Adult Regional Art Show; When the Work is Done, New York Mills Cultural Center, New York Mills, Minnesota May 25-July 2, 2022
- Native American Exhibit; Red Door Gallery, Wahpeton, North Dakota. May-July 2022
- Bi-Annual Members Show 2022; Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, Minnesota. May - July 2022
- Northstar Watermedia Society of Minnesota; Featured Artist Talk, April 2022
- Hope And Healing, Solo Exhibition: MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, Minnesota March-April 2022
- We Are Still Here; Indigenous Art Showcase. Featured Artist, Saint Paul, Minnesota November 2021
- Art Project 605, Inaugural Show "Wild", : Featured Artist, July 2021
- Northstar Watermedia Society Newsletter, : Featured Artist, April 2021
- Anji'Bide Changing our Paths Virtual Art Show: Giizhigan Arts Incubator, Mahnomen, Minnesota, Summer 2021
- At This Present Moment: Gizhiigin Arts Incubator-Saint Paul and Minneapolis Foundation, Summer 2020
- Members Show; Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, Minnesota: June-August 2021
- We Are Still Here; (St. Paul Art Leap) Schmidt Artist Loft-Landmark Gallery, St. Paul, MN, September 27-October 13, 2019
- Park Rapids Art Leap: Beagle & Wolf Bookstore and Bindery, September 28-29, 2019
- Changing Horizons: Two Rivers Gallery, Minneapolis, MN September 20-November 8, 2019
- The Wilder Foundation Solo Exhibit, St. Paul, MN March-May, 2019.
- Madwewe-It Is Heard- Miikanan Gallery Watermark Art Center- Jan-Mar 2019
- Andy Morris Art Extension-Featured Online Artist- January 2019
- NWICDC-Northwest Indian Community Development Center, Bemidji, Minnesota- May-June 2018
- Aazhoomon Indigenous Art Exhibit-Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, Minnesota-December 2017-January 2018.
- Andy Morris Art Extension-Online Group-Featured Artist February 2017
Awards, Gifts and Fellowships
Grants
Kent Estey is a fiscal year, 2024 and 2026 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature and a grant from the Nation Endowment for the Arts.
Fellowships
Selected from an exceptional group of candidates, Region 2 Arts Council is proud to announce Kent Estey as the recipient of the FY2023 Artist Fellowship, and more recently, Kent has been awarded the FY2025 Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship. This fellowship honors Indigenous artists whose work enriches and uplifts their communities, a
Selected from an exceptional group of candidates, Region 2 Arts Council is proud to announce Kent Estey as the recipient of the FY2023 Artist Fellowship, and more recently, Kent has been awarded the FY2025 Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship. This fellowship honors Indigenous artists whose work enriches and uplifts their communities, and Kent embodies this mission through his creative and cultural contributions.
Financial Gift
Financial Gift
Kent was selected to receive a 2022 financial gift from the Waterers Organization. The Waterers are the entrusted fund stewards of the Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native Nations geographic region Assembly. Our Assembly centers Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) creatives as leaders. Our gift-making strategy attends to the nuance and complexities of this region.