Terrance Guardipee is a Blackfeet painter and ledger artist, consistently recognized for the traditional depiction of his Blackfeet heritage and the contemporary innovation demonstrated in his work. Guardipee was one of the first Native artists to revive the historical ledger art tradition, and uses antique documents dating from the mid-19th century and typically originating from the historical and present Blackfeet homeland of Montana.Guardipee’s understanding and personal knowledge of authentic Blackfeet history and traditional culture is expressed in his work. Guardipee is a member of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana and he was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation. He lived in Montana until he attended the Institute of American Indian Arts located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he studied two-dimensional arts. His educational experience at IAIA enabled him to incorporate the contemporary color palette he is known for in a manner that is consistent with Blackfeet tradition.
