Hi, I’m Nathaniel Ruleaux. I’m an artist currently located on the unceded land of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Mnilúzahaŋ-Otȟúŋwahe.
I like to paint and draw with whatever materials I have on hand. Those usually include inks, acrylics, pastels, watercolors and spray paint on watercolor paper and canvas.
I also enjoy carving on wood and lino blocks to create original prints in my home studio.
My work is an expression of my combined anger at our nation, a love of the people and the land, and dreams of what kind of world I want my child to grow up in.
I’m a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. I often use bison as a symbol of the Lakota spirit, the power of our endangered natural world, and a righteous, powerful force for what America should be. I regularly combine other traditional Native images, like the ones used by my grandfather Donald D. Ruleaux, with images of current issues facing indigenous peoples and the world today.
In addition to creating visual art, I’m also a classically trained actor. I received my MFA in Theatre from the University of Houston’s School of Theatre and Dance after I finished my BA in Theatre Performance at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
What I’ve been up to:
Contemporary Indigeneity | The Great Plains Art Museum | Lincoln, NE | September-December 2024
Solo Show: NAVIGATIONS | The Union For Contemporary Art | Omaha, NE | July-August 2024
56th Red Cloud Indian Art Show | The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School | Pine Ridge, SD | June-August 2024
Solo Show: Connections:Past, Present, and Future | The Sioux Indian Museum | Rapid City, SD | December 2023-May 2024
Alternate Currents Working Group Cohort Member | Amplify Arts | Omaha, NE | December 2021-April 2024
Solo Show: Thankful for the Truth | Family Of Things | Omaha, NE | November 2023
Unceded Artist Collective: Unceded Garden Volunteer Day | Joslyn Castle & Gardens | Omaha, NE | October 2023
Opera In Conversation | Opera Omaha | Omaha, NE | October 2023
Indigenous People’s Day Celebration | Joslyn Castle & Gardens | Omaha, NE | October 2023
Castle & Cathedral Art Walk | Joslyn Castle & Gardens | Omaha, NE | September 2023
Unceded Artist Collective: Unceded Garden | Generator Space | Omaha, NE | September 2023-October 2023
Print, Paste, & Collaborate | Oglala Lakota Artspace | Kyle, SD | October 2023
Miye Sni Hanni (Before Me) | Oglala Lakota Artspace | Kyle, SD | September 2023
Artist In Residency | Oglala Lakota Artpsace | Kyle, SD | September 2023-October 2023
55th Red Cloud Indian Art Show | The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School | Pine Ridge, SD | June 2023-August 2023
Keynote Speaker & Youth Art Project | Nebraska Native Youth Conference | Norfolk, NE | May 2023
Group show:TAG! YOU’RE IT? | Tugboat Gallery | Lincoln, NE | March 2023
Opera In Conversation | Opera Omaha | Omaha, NE | March 2023
Opera Omaha Season Artwork | Opera Omaha | Omaha, NE | 2023-2024
Artist-In-Studio Residency | The Union for Contemporary Art | Omaha, NE | February 2023- March 2023
The Romanticization of the West: A Virtual Conversation | Hudson River Museum | February 2023
Solo Show:Columbus was a ____ | Fleabane Gallery | Omaha, NE | October 2022
Unceded Artist Collective:Don’t Whistle After Dark | BFF Gallery | Omaha, NE | October 2022
Solo Show: Facing The Storm | MoonRise Gallery | Elkhorn, NE | September-October 2022
Indigenous Futures Survey Campaign | Native Organizers Alliance/Illuminatives | National | December 2021-April 2022
54th Red Cloud Indian Art Show | The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School | Pine Ridge, SD | June 2022-August 2022
Omaha Nation Winter Market | Center for Rural Affairs | Walthill, NE | December 2o21
49 Minutes of Fame | Willa Cather Center | Red Cloud, NE | November-December 2021
49 Minutes of Fame Poster Design | Willa Cather Center | Red Cloud, NE | November-December 2021
Personal Meets Practice | UNL OASIS | Lincoln, NE | November 2021
Holiday Open House | MoonRise Gallery | Elkhorn, NE | November 2021
Lakȟótiya Wóglaka Po | Akta Lakota Museum Permanent Collection | October 2021
Digital Art Displays | Benson Theater | Omaha, NE | October 2o21-present
Skatefest Art Show 2| Skatefest Omaha| Omaha, NE | September 2021
Virtual Artist Market | Benson First Friday | Omaha, NE | September 2021
Virtual Artist Market | Benson First Friday | Omaha, NE | August 2021
Negative Space Group Exhibition | Moonrise Gallery | Elkhorn, NE | July 2021-September 2021
Virtual Artist Market | Benson First Friday | Omaha, NE | July 2021
Open Book | Amplify Arts | Omaha, NE | July 2021
53rd Red Cloud Indian Art Show | The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School | Pine Ridge, SD | June 2021-August 2021
Virtual Artist Market | Benson First Friday | Omaha,NE | June 2021
Unceded Artist Collective: The People, The Human Beings | Generator Space | Omaha, NE | May 2021-June 2021
Virtual Artist Market | Benson First Friday | Omaha,NE | May 2021
DADA Group Exhibition | Moonrise Gallery | Elkhorn,NE | April 2021-June 2021
Culture Work Fellow | Amplify Arts | ArtStock | Omaha, NE | 2020-2021
Alternate Currents Interview | Land Acknowledgements | Amplify Arts | February 2021
Featured Art | BFF/BID Banner Project | Benson First Friday | Omaha, NE | February 2021
Featured Art | Make Some Noise | Noise Omaha Civil Rights History Project | February 2021
AC Blog | Jonathan Orozco Land Acknowledgment Story |Amplify Arts | January 2021
At Ease Group Exhibition| Moonrise Gallery| Elkhorn, NE| January 2021-March 2021
Social Takeover|The Union for Contemporary Art|Omaha, NE|November 2020
Featured Art| Noise Omaha Story on Prism|National|November 2020
Featured Art| Noise Omaha|Omaha, NE|November 2020
Natives Vote 2020 Organizers T-shirt Design|Native Organizers Alliance|National|2020
Natives Vote 2020 Campaign |Native Organizers Alliance/Illuminatives| National| 2020
Virtual Artist Market | Benson First Friday | Omaha,NE | September 2020
Virtual Artist Market | Benson First Friday | Omaha,NE | August 2020
Cancelled | The Apollon| Nasty Artist Collective Annual Fundraiser Show | Omaha, NE | July 2020
Signs of the Times | Petshop Art Gallery | Benson First Friday | Omaha,NE | July 2020
Virtual Artist Market | Benson First Friday | Omaha, NE | July 2020
Art Now! | Digital Gallery | Omaha Creative Directory | Omaha, NE | June 2020
Art to Go Show | The Apollon | 2nd Friday on Vinton | Omaha, NE | June 2020
Solo Exhibition |Bright Eyes Optometry| Benson First Friday | Omaha, NE | March 2020-August 2020
Solo Exhibition | Jake’s Cigar Bar| Benson First Friday | Omaha, NE | February 2020