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Biography

 

In 1992 while living in Seattle, he met a Native American named Everett who produced native art and Totems. While working with Everett, he did his first big native painting. After trying many different subjects, he knew that painting Native Americans was what he loved to do most. In 2004 he and his wife, Utako, moved from Japan, where he had been working, back to the U.S. and are presently living in Montana studying the country and people that he loves to paint.

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Don Oelze's parents were from the southwest of the United States but their love of God took them to different parts of the world. Don was born in New Zealand and at an early age he had a fascination with America and especially with the lifestyle of cowboys and Indians. His grand parents collected Native American artifacts from their property and surrounding country in the eastern part of the United States. When he was six years old, his grandmother sent him an Indian outfit which only fueled his desire and love for the native customs and history. He started drawing Indians at a very early age, and by the time he was in school at age six or seven, he remembers getting in trouble for drawing Indians in class instead of paying attention to his New Zealand history teacher. When he was eight years old, his parents moved back to the United States where he continued to draw and paint through high school. He then attended Memphis College of Art for one year, where he painted many different subjects utilizing a wide range of mediums. Don finished his education at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire.

 

Awards

  • 2007 Best flat artist at the Calgary Stampede show case salon

  • 2008 Best flat artist at the Calgary Stampede show case salon

  • 2010 Calgary Stampede Poster artist.

  • 2011 Collectors choice award at the Calgary Stampede Auction

  • 2013 Jurors choice award at the Calgary Stampede Auction

  • 2013 Best flat artist at the Calgary Stampede show case salon

  • 2014 Red Bluff Western Art Show Award winner.

  • 2015 First Time Entrant Award at the30th Bosque Art Classic

  • 2015 Gallery Choice Award at the Traveling the West Art Show & Sale

  • 2016 Art Of The West Choice Award at the 42nd Annual Western Art Show & Sale

  • 2016 Member’s Choice Award of Excellence at the Mountain Oyster Club

  • 2021 Artist Choice Award at the Roundup Exhibition and Sale.

  • 2022 Sam Houston Award at the Briscoe Museum “Night of Artists”

  • 2022 Patron’s Choice Award at the Briscoe Museum “Night of Artists”

  • 2023 Best Of show at the Coeur d' Alene Galleries Miniature by the Lake Show

Gallery Representation

  • Legacy Gallery

  • Settlers West Gallery

  • Illume Gallery

  • Coeur d’Alene Gallery

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