“I paint from my heart and soul, viewing Aboriginal people through their life ways as they once lived and as they strive to continue to live as loving, caring and peaceful people. The teachings and stories I have learned flow onto the canvas expressing ideas through my detailed, woodland style of art. A style that I connected with as part of my history passed down from generation to generation.

I paint legends and dreams, bringing to life the animal spirit and the spirit of all creation. My lines do not tell the story of prejudice, they follow the Red Road, Mino Bimaadiziwin as I do following the teaching of the Three Fires Midewiwin Society.”

Jay Bell Redbird was an Ojibway artist born in Ottawa, Canada on August 31, 1968. He was taught and influenced by many world-renowned artists including his uncle Leland Bell, his father Duke Redbird, Norval Morriseau, Jackson Beardy and Cecil Youngfox.

In 2012 , Redbird met Rolf Bouman and became a mentor for many Indigenous artists of the Friends United initiative in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Redbirds work became part of many private and public collections in Canada and worldwide. Many Hollywood actors, including Russell Crowe, Danny DeVito and Meg Ryan, who met Jay while he was working in the film industry in Toronto, Have purchased and become collectors of his work.

Jay passed away suddenly in his sleep on June 9, 2019. From the words of fellow Ojibwe artist Brent Hardisty, “Jay taught me many techniques and lessons, one being to not sweat the small stuff and that Native artists should share their gifts.”