First Name: Leland

Last Name: Bell

Full Name: Leland Bell

Alternative Names: Bebaminojmat, loosely translated, 'when you go around you talk about good things'

Date of birth: 1953

Place of birth: The Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve, Ontario, Canada

Community / Heritage: Anishinaabe/Ojibwa-Odawa

Sex: Male

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/leland.bell.9

Art Media: Canadian acrylic, oil, silkscreen, serigraph.

Bio:

Leland Bell is an Anishinaabe Canadian artist born in 1953 at the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve, on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. He was raised at the reserve as well as in Toronto. He graduated from Laurentian University in Sudbury, where he majored in Native Studies. Bell is from the Loon Clan, and is affiliated with the Three Fires Midewiwin Society.

Early in his career, Bell was mentored by the Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporation, often known as “Indian Group of Seven,” at the Manitou Arts Foundation on Schreiber Island. 

Bell has been painting professionally since 1976; his work often depicts human figures—often the artist’s family and friends. In addition to his painting, he spends time working on music and writing. He has collaborated with Shirley Chee Choo and her husband Blake Debassige in writing music for Chee Choo’s film projects. Bell has also worked as an art instructor and has conducted numerous workshops and presentations throughout North America.

Bell’s work has been included in several group exhibitions in Ontario, British Columbia and Switzerland. His works are represented in many prominent art collections in North America and Europe.

Exhibitions

• The Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, M'Chigeeng, Ontario, Canada
• “From the Heart of Turtle Island: Contemporary Art from Manitoulin Island”, The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
• Gallery De Boer - Fine Art, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
• The Dancing through Time exhibition, The MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Articles

• http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/lelandbell.html
• http://artistsagainstracism.org/leland-bell/
• https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1494293059799