Michael Lee Willcuts Profile Picture

Michael Lee Willcuts

Rapid City, South Dakota, United States •
Artist (Painting, Digital Arts) •
Born 1966 •
Mitakuye Oyasin - We Are All Related

Michael Lee Willcuts - Sioux Indian Museum Exhibition Biography 1992.
Sans Arc Teton Sioux Minniconjou Lakota (1966- )


Michael Lee Willcuts was born in Los Angeles, California on September 5, 1966.  His Lakota name is Tatanka Woslal Mani, which translates to Buffalo Who Walks Standing Upright / Standing Upright Buffalo / Standing Walking Buffalo.
Willcuts is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; he belongs to the Minniconjou band of the Lakota Nation.


Willcuts' ancestral lineage includes his great great great-grandfather Red Hair Elk Head, who is/was a Keeper of the Sacred Calf Pipe and whose sister is/was Crazy Horse's mother. His great great great-grandfather is/was a member of the Elk Head Clan. Willcuts' grandmother, Annie Yellowhawk / Elk Head, is the last living member of this clan.


Willcuts is in the vanguard of a new and innovative breed using a now accepted fine art medium, airbrush. He is one of the few Native American visual artists to experiment and develop what was once a tool used primarily in commercial art. Already, Willcuts has polished and mastered a style of razor-sharp clarity with much enthusiasm.


As an artist, Willcuts has participated in notable exhibitions such as the 1990 Ventura Cup Regatta. There, he won a certificate of professional merit for a poster he designed. His work was also included in a one year exhibition at Ventura College. In 1992, Willcuts entered a student design and photography show at Black Hills State University where he also placed second in illustrations.


Willcuts is confident when he says how much he loves his career and sincerely considers his talent a gift from God. He wants to provide everyone with a glimpse into the history of his culture and the spiritual relationship he has with the earth.
Presently, Willcuts live in Rapid City, South Dakota.



Discover contemporary artworks by Michael Lee Willcuts, browse recent artworks and buy online. Categories: contemporary american artists. Artistic domains: Painting, Digital Arts. Account type: Artist , member since 2023 (Country of origin United States). Buy Michael Lee Willcuts's latest works on ArtMajeur: Discover great art by contemporary artist Michael Lee Willcuts. Browse artworks, buy original art or high end prints.

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Biography

Michael Lee Willcuts - Sioux Indian Museum Exhibition Biography 1992.
Sans Arc Teton Sioux Minniconjou Lakota (1966- )


Michael Lee Willcuts was born in Los Angeles, California on September 5, 1966.  His Lakota name is Tatanka Woslal Mani, which translates to Buffalo Who Walks Standing Upright / Standing Upright Buffalo / Standing Walking Buffalo.
Willcuts is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; he belongs to the Minniconjou band of the Lakota Nation.


Willcuts' ancestral lineage includes his great great great-grandfather Red Hair Elk Head, who is/was a Keeper of the Sacred Calf Pipe and whose sister is/was Crazy Horse's mother. His great great great-grandfather is/was a member of the Elk Head Clan. Willcuts' grandmother, Annie Yellowhawk / Elk Head, is the last living member of this clan.


Willcuts is in the vanguard of a new and innovative breed using a now accepted fine art medium, airbrush. He is one of the few Native American visual artists to experiment and develop what was once a tool used primarily in commercial art. Already, Willcuts has polished and mastered a style of razor-sharp clarity with much enthusiasm.


As an artist, Willcuts has participated in notable exhibitions such as the 1990 Ventura Cup Regatta. There, he won a certificate of professional merit for a poster he designed. His work was also included in a one year exhibition at Ventura College. In 1992, Willcuts entered a student design and photography show at Black Hills State University where he also placed second in illustrations.


Willcuts is confident when he says how much he loves his career and sincerely considers his talent a gift from God. He wants to provide everyone with a glimpse into the history of his culture and the spiritual relationship he has with the earth.
Presently, Willcuts live in Rapid City, South Dakota.



Michael Lee Willcuts - The artist at work

Ongoing and Upcoming art events

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Influences

Oscar Howe, don montileux, jim yellowhawk, rich red owl, Donald Vann

Education

1995 - 1996 Illustration - Art Center College Of Design. Pasadena, CA, United States
1990 - 1993 B.A. Fine Arts Education (Teaching K-12, College) Black Hills State University. Spearfish, SD, United States
1991 - 1992 El Camino College in Torrance Torrence, CA, United States
1990 - 1991 Ventura College Ventura, CA, United States
1986 - 1988 School of Mines And Technology Rapid City, SD, United States
1985 - 1986 Oxnard College Oxnard, CA, United States

Artist value certified

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Achievements

Prizes and Awards

1996 Atomkongress International School Tour - Germany 1996. Germany
1996 Native American International Art Show At Mystic Maze Gallery - London England 1996. London, England, United Kingdom
1995 Promising New Artist Award (Mixed Media) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1995. Rapid City, SD, United States
1995 4Th Place Award (Mixed Media) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1995. Rapid City, SD, United States
1995 3Rd Place Award (Mixed Media) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1995. Rapid City, SD, United States
1995 1St Place Award (Mixed Media) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1995. Rapid City, SD, United States
1995 1St Place Award (Mixed Media) Crazy Horse–Gift From Mother Earth Art 1995. Crazy Horse, SD, United States
1994 3Rd Place Award (Mixed Media) Inter Tribal Arts Experience 1994. Dayton, OH, United States
1994 Honorable Mention Award (Drawing) United Sioux Tribes Indian Art Expo 1994. Bismark, ND, United States
1994 3Rd Place Award (Drawing) Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Art Show 1994. Eagle Butte, SD, United States
1994 2Nd Place Award (Watercolor) Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Art Show 1994. Eagle Butte, SD, United States
1994 1St Place Award (Prints) Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Art Show 1994. Eagle Butte, SD, United States
1994 2Nd Place Award (Mixed Media) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1994. Rapid City, SD, United States
1994 3Rd Place Award (Drawing) Crazy Horse Gift From Mother Earth Art Show 1994. Crazy Horse, SD, United States
1993 1St Place Award (Mixed Media) United Sioux Tribes Indian Art Expo 1993. Bismark, ND, United States
1993 2Nd Place Award (Mixed Media) Central States Fair Art Show 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 1St Place Award (Mixed Media) Central States Fair Art Show 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 1St Place Award (Watercolor) Central States Fair Art Show 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 3Rd Place Award (Watercolor) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 Aplan-Award/Outstanding Young Indian Artist, Red Cloud Indian Art Show Show 1993. Mission, SD, United States
1992 "New Pony" - 2Nd Place - Illustration - Student Design And Photography Show - Black Hills State University 1992. Spearfish, SD, United States
1992 Thunderbird Scholarships-Red Cloud Indian Art Show Show 1992. Mission, SD, United States
1992 Center For Indian Studies-Scholarships-Black Hills State University Art 1992. Spearfish, SD, United States
1990 1 Year Student Art Exhibition - Ventura College Ventura, CA, United States
1990 1990 Ventura Cup Regatta - Certificate Of Professional Merit Ventura, CA, United States
1990 Red Cloud Indian Art Show - Outstanding Young Indian Artist Award And Aplan Award. Mission, SD, United States

Collective Expositions

1997 School Of Mines And Technology Art Exposition 1997. Rapid City, SD, United States
1996 Atomkongress International School Tour Germany 1996. Germany
1996 Native American International Art Show At Mystic Maze London England 1996. London, England, United States
1995 "Race Against Time" - 1St Place Award (Mixed Media) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1995. Rapid City, SD, United States
1995 1St Place Award (Mixed Media) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1995. Rapid City, SD, United States
1995 1St Place Award (Mixed Media) Crazy Horse – Gift From Mother Earth Art 1995. Crazy Horse, SD, United States
1994 3Rd Place Award (Mixed Media) - Inter Tribal Arts Experience 1994 - Dayton, Oh. Dayton, OH, United States
1994 Honorable Mention Award (Drawing) United Sioux Tribes Indian Art Expo 1994. Bismark, ND, United States
1994 1St Place Award (Prints) Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Art Show 1994. Eagle Butte, SD, United States
1994 2Nd Place Award (Mixed Media) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1994. Rapid City, SD, United States
1994 3Rd Place Award (Drawing) Crazy Horse Gift From Mother Earth Art Show 1994. Crazy Horse, SD, United States
1993 1St Place Award (Mixed Media) United Sioux Tribes Indian Art Expo 1993. Bismark, ND, United States
1993 1St Place Award (Watercolor) Central States Fair Art Show 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 3Rd Place Award (Watercolor) Black Hills Pow Wow And Indian Art Expo 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 Aplan-Award/Outstanding Young Indian Artist, Red Cloud Indian Art Show 1993. Mission, SD, United States
1992 Thunderbird Scholarships-Red Cloud Indian Art Show Show 1992. Mission, SD, United States
1992 "New Pony" - 2Nd Place Award (Illustration) Black Hills State University Art Show 1992. Spearfish, SD, United States
1989 Lead-Deadwood Art Show Lead-Deadwood, SD, United States

Permanent Collections

1993 "Akicita" - 1 St Place Award - Sioux Indian Museum Art Exposition 1993. Akta Lakota Museum 1993. Chamberlain, SD, United States
1992 "Mato-Pa" - Atka Lakota Museum Permanent Collection Chamberlain, SD, United States

Publications & Press

1993 Rapid City Journal; Interview, 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 Visions: Special Edition; Indian Country Today; Interview, 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 Inside: The Black Hills, Interview, 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1993 Willcuts Ml. Michael L. Willcuts, Fine Art In Airbrush. [U.s. Dept. Of The Interior, Indian Arts And Crafts Board, Sioux Indian Museum And Crafts Center; 1993. Rapid City, SD, United States
1995 Sir Publications, The Biographical Directory Of Native American Painter; 1995. Rapid City, SD, United States
1995 Native Peoples Magazine, 1995. Rapid City, SD, United States
1996 Northern Plains Tribal Arts Show, Artists Interview, 1996. Sioux Falls, SD, United States

Residencies

1990 Artist In Residence - Crazy Horse Memorial - 1990 - 2011 Crazy Horse, SD, United States

Solo Expositions

2017 Michael Lee Willcuts - Airbrush Demonstration - Sturgis Rally Week - Warriors Work Gallery Hill City, SD, United States
2012 Custer County Library Art Show Custer, SD, United States
1995 "Medicine Man" 1995. Chalk Farm Gallery. Camden Locke, UK London, United Kingdom
1995 Mystic Maze Native Art Exposition London, UK, United Kingdom
1992 Sioux Indian Museum Art Exposition 1992 Rapid City, SD, United States
1990 Ventura College Art Exposition Ventura, CA, United States

Activity on ArtMajeur

Last modification date : Mar 9, 2025 (Member since 2023)
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Latest News
All the latest news from contemporary artist Michael Lee Willcuts

Added Mar 5, 2023

Michael Lee Willcuts Airbrush Demonstration

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Added May 1, 2023

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Added Apr 17, 2023

Native Peoples Magazine 1996

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Added Apr 17, 2023

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Added Apr 2, 2023

The Legend of the Peace Pipe - Lakota Version

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Added Apr 2, 2023

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Added Apr 2, 2023

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Added Apr 2, 2023

"Lakota Myth" Creation Story Lakota Myth https://pages.ucsd.edu/~rfrank/class_web/ES-110/ETHN110articles/Plains/walker_ps.pdf


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Added Apr 2, 2023

Marie ElkHead Fiddler, Leonard Fiddler and Shirley Fiddler https://youtu.be/DbZKpeeDsmU

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Added Mar 6, 2023

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Added Mar 6, 2023

Airbrush Studio Gallery

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Added Jan 27, 2023

Michael Lee Willcuts & Kramer 1984 - Guitar Performance June 25, 2020. Recorded in Rapid City, SD. ©2020 Buffalo Who Walks Standing Upright

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Added Jan 27, 2023

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