Jim Denomie giving an artist’s talk during his Eiteljorg Fellowship of Native American Fine Art, November 13, 2009. Photo by Sarah Stierch; uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by user Missvavin.

“Casino Sunrise.” Etching on paper by Jim Denomie, 2009.

“The Delegation.” Oil-on-canvas painting by Jim Denomie, 2008.

“Attack on Fort Snelling Bar and Grill.” Oil-on-canvas painting by Jim Denomie, 2007.

“Koochie and Tuffy.” Oil-on-canvas painting by Jim Denomie, 2007.

“Live Music Tonite.” Oil-on-canvas painting by Jim Denomie, 1996.

Jim Denomie speaking to an interviewer in his studio, 2021. Still image from “Art Speaks Teaser,” a video produced by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Jim Denomie, an Ojibwe artist in Minneapolis, had been painting for only fifteen years. Now fifty, he wanted to bring the fun back into his art by making a painting a day for a year. But that was after spending all day at his construction job. MN90’s Britt Aamodt tells the story.

Jim Denomie reflects on his painting "Off the Reservation (or Minnesota Nice)," which was included in the Art Speaks exhibition at the Minnesota History Center, February 26–July 31, 2022.